Exploring Mars With NASA’s Insight Mission
Since humans first gazed upon the Red Planet, Mars has been fascinating our imaginations. With its harsh climate and rocky landscapes, Mars has remained a mystery for centuries. Fortunately, NASA is helping us get a little closer to unlocking the secrets of Mars through their Insight mission.
What Is NASA’s Insight Mission
In 2018, NASA launched the Mars Insight mission, which is designed to investigate the deep interior of Mars. The mission is part of NASA’s Discovery Program, which is responsible for low-cost planetary science missions with highly focused scientific objectives.
Insight is designed to land on Mars and deploy instruments that will probe beneath the planet’s surface to study its geology, seismology, and heat flow. The lander has two primary instruments: The Seismic Experiment for Interior Structure (SEIS) and the Heat Flow and Physical Properties Package (HP3).
Studying Mars’ Interior
SEIS is a device that is designed to detect Marsquakes, which are the equivalent of earthquakes on Earth. By measuring the seismic waves generated by Marsquakes, scientists hope to uncover the secrets of Mars’ deep interior. The data gathered by SEIS can reveal the thickness and composition of Mars’ crust, as well as the presence of a liquid or solid core.
HP3, on the other hand, is designed to measure the underground temperature of Mars. By drilling beneath the planet’s surface, HP3 can reveal how much heat is coming from the Martian interior and how it’s affecting the planet’s surface.
Insight’s Discoveries So Far
Since its landing on Mars, Insight has already made a number of exciting discoveries. In 2019, SEIS detected its first Marsquake, which was a groundbreaking moment for the Insight mission. This milestone demonstrated that Mars is a seismically active planet, much like Earth.
In addition, HP3 had trouble drilling into the Martian surface, prompting the mission team to develop new techniques to overcome this challenge. After carefully analyzing the data gathered by HP3, the team was able to determine that the Martian soil is more compacted than they previously thought.
What’s Next for NASA’s Insight Mission
NASA’s Insight mission has provided a wealth of information about Mars, but there’s still much more to learn. Over the next few years, the Insight team will continue to analyze the data gathered by SEIS and HP3, as well as use other instruments on the lander to investigate Mars’ atmosphere and magnetic field.
One of the most exciting aspects of the Insight mission is that it paves the way for future Mars exploration. The data gathered by Insight can help NASA plan future missions to Mars and develop new technologies to unlock the mysteries of the Red Planet.
Conclusion
NASA’s Insight mission is an exciting project that is helping us unlock the secrets of Mars. By studying the planet’s deep interior, scientists hope to learn more about Mars’ history and formation. With its groundbreaking discoveries and future plans, the Insight mission is paving the way for future Mars exploration.
