The craft could encounter an unexpected complication on the way down and enter a safe mode, which would delay a landing confirmation signal.

These messages imply that the software failed to work properly the last time it was used and offer to start them in safe mode.

Last week contact was lost with the craft, and when it got back in touch it had entered 'safe mode', implying there had been a technical error.

That was when the sensors, which measure the load on the cables, were triggered and the pod went into 'safe mode'.

On this day, the spacecraft placed itself in safe mode, resulting in some data acquisition loss.