On November 26, 2018, NASA’s Insight Mars lander landed on the surface of Mars. Since then, Insight, which refers to internal exploration using seismic investigation, geodesy and heat transport, has studied the interior of the Red Planet and collected data that will help scientists better understand. Rocky planetary structure, and perhaps better to understand our own planet. Designed to monitor seismic activity, Insight detected 1,300 Marskets during its mission. More than 1,200 days after landing on Mars, Insight is covered in so much dust that its solar panels are no longer fully operational. NASA has put Insight in a low-power mode, but not before taking a final selfie.
Below NASA’s tweet, a GIF shows an incredible transformation into InSight’s cleanliness in one of its first selfies in late 2018 and in its final one. Mars is a terribly dusty place, and there are so many expensive, sophisticated equipment to see in this nation state.
Before losing any more solar energy, I took some time around and took my final selfie before resting my hands and camera permanently.
More in my last months ahead: https://t.co/eATDXbOlx2 pic.twitter.com/q7gso8NSjv
– NASA Insight (NASAInSight) May 24, 2022
NASA is hoping Insight’s scientific operation will end this summer and the lander will become inoperable by December. The dark sky of Mars towards the end of the year is also a contributing factor. Solar panels currently produce about 10% of their original power output.
The image below was captured shortly before Insight placed his robotic arm at rest, in what is being called a ‘leisure pose’. Robotic arms are equal Helps to keep dust off 2.2m (7 ‘) wide solar panel, which was not an intended purpose. Even still, the lander is now very dusty.
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| Insight’s Dusty Solar Panel: This image was captured on the Insul mission’s 1,211th Mars Day or Solar April 24, 2022 from one of its dust-covered solar panels. Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech. |
Data collected by Insight, including its measurements The latest 5-dimensional Marscomp May 4, helped scientists measure the depth and structure of the crust, mantle and core of Mars. The lander has also created invaluable information on the weather on Mars and its magnetic field.
“Insight has changed our understanding of the interior of the rocky planet and set the stage for future missions,” said Laurie Glaze, director of NASA’s Planetary Science Division. “We can apply what we have learned about the internal structure of Mars to the rocky planets of the Earth, the Moon, Venus, and even other solar systems.”
It is possible that Insight will benefit from a lucky ‘Dust Devil’ to help blow dust from its solar panels. However, power levels are now low enough that NASA must be prepared for the worst and try to collect as much extra data as possible. InSight’s devices will rarely be operational later this month, which is expected to be completely shut down by the end of this year.
