NASA InSight Lander Facts That You May Find interesting

Earlier this week, NASA’s $850 million InSight Lander touched down on Mars. The InSight (Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport) Lander is considered the largest drill that NASA ever sent to space. Here are some NASA InSight Lander facts that you may find interesting.

What Is The InSight Lander Going To Do?

The InSight Lander was created to study the interior structure of Mars, including the core, mantle, and crust. In the past, NASA relied on the studying of Mars’ surface for signs of potential life.

InSight will not be moving around since it is not a rover. So far, there have been six successful robotically operated Mars rovers. 

By being able to study evidence buried below the surface of Mars, InSight will be able to learn about the vital signs of the planet including pulse, temperature, and reflexes. These investigations are possible using three instruments: Seismic Experiment for Interior Structure (SEIS) for recording seismic waves traveling through the interior structure of the planet; the Heat Flow and Physical Properties Package (HP3) to burrow deeper than any other scoop, drill, or probe for gauging how much heat is flowing out of the planet; and the InSight’s Rotation and Interior Structure Experiment (RISE) ― which uses the lander’s radios to assess the wobble of Mars’ rotation axis.

Where Did The InSight Lander Actually Land?

The InSight Lander landed at Elysium Planitia, a plain area of the planet that is close to the equator. This ensures that the solar panels powering the InSight’s instruments will work through the two-year mission. And the smooth surface of the Elysium Planitia makes it easier for InSight’s drill to go deep into the soil.

“If Elysium Planitia were a salad, it would consist of romaine lettuce and kale – no dressing,” said Bruce Banerdt, the principal investigator of InSight at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California earlier this month. “If it were an ice cream, it would be vanilla.”

How Does The Drill Work?

The InSight drill works like a motorized nail and hammers itself into the ground, according to Business Insider. After 40 days, the drill will reach about 16 feet deep into the planet. NASA’s Curiosity Rover was only able to go about half an inch deep.

Once the InSight starts digging, it will shoot out bursts of heat. And by calculating how quickly the heat warms the ground around it, InSight will be able to determine the chemical makeup of the soil.

InSight will also send vibrations through the ground as it digs, which are sensitive to different layers under the surface. If Mars has underground lava flows, then the vibrations will be able to locate it. InSight has another tool that can measure how much Mars wobbles on the axis. Depending on how much Mars wobbles, it will determine whether the core is molten liquid or solid metal.

Based on all this information, it will also help scientists learn how rocky planets like Earth and Mars were created at the beginning.

How Long Did It Take For InSight To Reach Mars?

The InSight Lander touched down on Mars after nearly seven months of traveling 300 million miles (or 485 million kilometers) from Earth.

Specifically, the InSight Lander departed from Earth via the Vandenberg Air Force Base in California on May 5, 2018. And the InSight landed on November 26, 2018, at 11:52 AM Pacific Time.

The landing process was about six-and-half minutes. And InSight entered the Martian atmosphere at a speed of about 12,300 MPH.

In order to successfully land, the probe had to follow a multi-step routine to slow down before hitting the ground. For example, InSight had to deploy a supersonic parachute, gather radar measurements and ignite thrusters within seven minutes of reaching the Martian atmosphere.

How Does The Solar Powered Functions Work?

InSight has twin solar arrays that extend to a width of 2.2 meters. The probe will be able to get around 600 to 700 watts from the solar panels on clear days or even 200 to 300 watts if dust settles on the panels. This is enough to keep the instruments running.

“We are solar powered, so getting the arrays out and operating is a big deal,” added Tom Hoffman at JPL. “With the arrays providing the energy we need to start the cool science operations, we are well on our way to thoroughly investigate what’s inside of Mars for the very first time.”

Note: This article will be updated from time-to-time. Stay tuned!