The Mars rover Curiosity has temporarily stopped science observations while NASA checks out an electrical problem.

The space agency said on Wednesday that the voltage change was first discovered on Sunday and engineers think it might be some kind of short.

An artist's impression of Curiosity at work on Mars. Credit:NASA

The six-wheel, nuclear-powered rover halted work as a precaution.

So far, there's no sign that the problem is related to a computer reboot earlier this month that put Curiosity in safe mode.

Curiosity landed in a Martian crater in August 2012 and has spent the last several months driving toward its ultimate destination, Mount Sharp.

AP