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NASA’s Mars InSight Landing: Back to the Red Planet Once Again Mars InSight Landing: Follow NASA’s Return to the Red Planet
(35 minutes later)
More than six months and 300 million miles since it launched from California’s Vandenberg Air Force Base, NASA’s InSight lander is due to arrive at Mars on Monday to study the red planet.More than six months and 300 million miles since it launched from California’s Vandenberg Air Force Base, NASA’s InSight lander is due to arrive at Mars on Monday to study the red planet.
NASA’s study of Mars has focused on the planet’s surface and the possibility of life early in its history. By contrast, the InSight mission — the name is a compression of Interior Exploration Using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport — will study the mysteries of the planet’s deep interior, aiming to answer geophysical questions about its structure, composition and how it formed.NASA’s study of Mars has focused on the planet’s surface and the possibility of life early in its history. By contrast, the InSight mission — the name is a compression of Interior Exploration Using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport — will study the mysteries of the planet’s deep interior, aiming to answer geophysical questions about its structure, composition and how it formed.
The touchdown is predicted to occur at 2:54 p.m. Eastern Time.The touchdown is predicted to occur at 2:54 p.m. Eastern Time.
To be precise, that is the “Earth receive time” — when the signal reporting the landing arrives on Earth (and the start of cheering in the control room).To be precise, that is the “Earth receive time” — when the signal reporting the landing arrives on Earth (and the start of cheering in the control room).
The actual landing is scheduled to occur at 2:47 p.m. The radio signal then has to travel 91 million miles to Earth from Mars, arriving some 8 minutes later (the amount of time it takes light to travel this far).The actual landing is scheduled to occur at 2:47 p.m. The radio signal then has to travel 91 million miles to Earth from Mars, arriving some 8 minutes later (the amount of time it takes light to travel this far).
NASA will broadcast coverage of the landing on the internet beginning at 2 p.m. Eastern Time. People in midtown Manhattan can watch it on Nasdaq’s big screen in Times Square. Last week, NASA reported that conditions on Mars were clear, meaning that no dust storms or other weather conditions were expected that could imperil the landing.
InSight is designed to land safely even in the middle of a dust storm. The mission’s managers are just happy that they don’t have to stress their system.
NASA will broadcast coverage of the landing on the internet beginning at 2 p.m. Eastern Time. People in midtown Manhattan can watch it on Nasdaq’s big screen in Times Square. You can also watch it here:
Sometime after 5 p.m., the space agency will hold a news conference to discuss how everything went.Sometime after 5 p.m., the space agency will hold a news conference to discuss how everything went.
NASA has also arranged parties around the country — including gatherings at The Los Angeles Central Library, the Adler Planetarium in Chicago and the American Museum of Natural History in New York — where people can watch the landing with other Mars enthusiasts.NASA has also arranged parties around the country — including gatherings at The Los Angeles Central Library, the Adler Planetarium in Chicago and the American Museum of Natural History in New York — where people can watch the landing with other Mars enthusiasts.
[Sign up to get reminders for space and astronomy events on your calendar.][Sign up to get reminders for space and astronomy events on your calendar.]
The InSight spacecraft will be traveling at 12,300 miles per hour when it enters the top of Mars’s atmosphere, about 80 miles above the surface. (That’s more than 200 miles a minute.) Six and a half minutes later, it will be traveling 0 miles per hour, at rest on the ground. That much is certain. (NASA’s spacecraft navigators are really good; they’re not going to miss Mars.)The InSight spacecraft will be traveling at 12,300 miles per hour when it enters the top of Mars’s atmosphere, about 80 miles above the surface. (That’s more than 200 miles a minute.) Six and a half minutes later, it will be traveling 0 miles per hour, at rest on the ground. That much is certain. (NASA’s spacecraft navigators are really good; they’re not going to miss Mars.)
The tricky part is landing in one piece and in working condition. To date, NASA is the only space agency that has accomplished that feat.The tricky part is landing in one piece and in working condition. To date, NASA is the only space agency that has accomplished that feat.
The very thin air of Mars makes landing particularly challenging. There is enough air that the friction of the molecules will heat parts of the outside of InSight to 2,700 degrees Fahrenheit — hot enough to melt steel — but not enough air for the drag to slow the spacecraft much.The very thin air of Mars makes landing particularly challenging. There is enough air that the friction of the molecules will heat parts of the outside of InSight to 2,700 degrees Fahrenheit — hot enough to melt steel — but not enough air for the drag to slow the spacecraft much.
Thus, the InSight lander will use a series of mechanisms — a heat shield, parachutes and rocket engines — to slow down. It is to arrive on the Martian surface at a speed of 5 miles per hour. Sixteen minutes later — to allow time for dust kicked up from landing to settle — the spacecraft is to unfurl its solar panels.Thus, the InSight lander will use a series of mechanisms — a heat shield, parachutes and rocket engines — to slow down. It is to arrive on the Martian surface at a speed of 5 miles per hour. Sixteen minutes later — to allow time for dust kicked up from landing to settle — the spacecraft is to unfurl its solar panels.
NASA engineers know the system can work. The design of InSight is almost identical to that of the Phoenix Mars lander that successfully set down on Mars in 2008.NASA engineers know the system can work. The design of InSight is almost identical to that of the Phoenix Mars lander that successfully set down on Mars in 2008.
The landing site has the idyllic name Elysium Planitia, near the Equator in the northern hemisphere. Mission scientists have described the region as resembling a parking lot or “Kansas without the corn.”The landing site has the idyllic name Elysium Planitia, near the Equator in the northern hemisphere. Mission scientists have described the region as resembling a parking lot or “Kansas without the corn.”
That is intentional. Because the mission is not interested in rocky terrain or pretty sunsets, planners chose the flattest, safest place that the spacecraft could land.That is intentional. Because the mission is not interested in rocky terrain or pretty sunsets, planners chose the flattest, safest place that the spacecraft could land.
How often does the ground shake with marsquakes? Just how big is the molten core within Mars? How thick is the crust? How much heat is flowing up from the decay of radioactive elements at the planet’s core? Those are some of questions mission scientists hope to answer. How often does the ground shake with marsquakes? Just how big is the molten core within Mars? How thick is the crust? How much heat is flowing up from the decay of radioactive elements at the planet’s core? Those are some of the questions mission scientists hope to answer.
InSight is carrying two main instruments: a dome-shape package containing seismometers and a heat probe that is to burrow about 16 feet down. NASA has spent $814 million on InSight. In addition, France and Germany invested $180 million to build these main instruments.InSight is carrying two main instruments: a dome-shape package containing seismometers and a heat probe that is to burrow about 16 feet down. NASA has spent $814 million on InSight. In addition, France and Germany invested $180 million to build these main instruments.
The seismometers, which are designed to measure surface movements less than the width of a hydrogen atom, will produce what are essentially sonograms of the planet’s insides. In particular, scientists are looking to record at least 10 to 12 marsquakes over two years. Temblors on Mars are not caused by plate tectonics, like on Earth. Instead they are generated when the planet’s crust cracks because of its interior’s cooling and shrinking. The seismometers could also detect other seismic vibrations from meteors hitting Mars.The seismometers, which are designed to measure surface movements less than the width of a hydrogen atom, will produce what are essentially sonograms of the planet’s insides. In particular, scientists are looking to record at least 10 to 12 marsquakes over two years. Temblors on Mars are not caused by plate tectonics, like on Earth. Instead they are generated when the planet’s crust cracks because of its interior’s cooling and shrinking. The seismometers could also detect other seismic vibrations from meteors hitting Mars.
With the data, the scientists expect to be able to piece together a three-dimensional picture of the planet’s interior.With the data, the scientists expect to be able to piece together a three-dimensional picture of the planet’s interior.
Not for a while.Not for a while.
The first five to six weeks will largely be spent checking the health of the spacecraft, including its robotic arm. After that, the arm will lift the seismometer dome off the main deck of the lander and place it on the ground. The burrowing heat probe will be deployed after that and take about 40 days to reach its final depth of 16 feet.The first five to six weeks will largely be spent checking the health of the spacecraft, including its robotic arm. After that, the arm will lift the seismometer dome off the main deck of the lander and place it on the ground. The burrowing heat probe will be deployed after that and take about 40 days to reach its final depth of 16 feet.
InSight’s primary mission on the surface is to last nearly two years.InSight’s primary mission on the surface is to last nearly two years.
Those aren’t briefcases. They’re tiny spacecraft!Those aren’t briefcases. They’re tiny spacecraft!
NASA is using the InSight mission to test new technology. Two identical spacecraft known as Mars Cube One, or MarCO for short, launched with InSight in May. MarCO A and B then separated from InSight’s cruise stage and have since been trailing behind it.NASA is using the InSight mission to test new technology. Two identical spacecraft known as Mars Cube One, or MarCO for short, launched with InSight in May. MarCO A and B then separated from InSight’s cruise stage and have since been trailing behind it.
Hundreds of miniature satellites known as CubeSats have launched into orbit around Earth in recent years, but this is the first time that CubeSats have been sent on an interplanetary voyage.Hundreds of miniature satellites known as CubeSats have launched into orbit around Earth in recent years, but this is the first time that CubeSats have been sent on an interplanetary voyage.
The MarCO spacecraft will relay InSight telemetry to Earth. If that works, a photograph by InSight could arrive within minutes of its arrival. NASA demonstrated the CubeSats’ abilities with a picture of Mars captured by MarCO B on Saturday:The MarCO spacecraft will relay InSight telemetry to Earth. If that works, a photograph by InSight could arrive within minutes of its arrival. NASA demonstrated the CubeSats’ abilities with a picture of Mars captured by MarCO B on Saturday:
But NASA is not relying on MarCO. The data will also be relayed through two other orbiting spacecraft, Mars Odyssey and Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.But NASA is not relying on MarCO. The data will also be relayed through two other orbiting spacecraft, Mars Odyssey and Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.
In orbit, NASA also has the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, Mars Odyssey and Maven. The European Space Agency has Mars Express and the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter. The Indian Space Research Organization has the Mars Orbiter Mission, also known as Mangalyaan.In orbit, NASA also has the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, Mars Odyssey and Maven. The European Space Agency has Mars Express and the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter. The Indian Space Research Organization has the Mars Orbiter Mission, also known as Mangalyaan.
On the surface, NASA currently has the Curiosity and Opportunity rovers, although solar-powered Opportunity has been quiet since the summer when a global dust storm prevented it from generating enough power to operate. NASA is hoping that Opportunity will revive now the skies have cleared.On the surface, NASA currently has the Curiosity and Opportunity rovers, although solar-powered Opportunity has been quiet since the summer when a global dust storm prevented it from generating enough power to operate. NASA is hoping that Opportunity will revive now the skies have cleared.
The year 2020 could be busy.The year 2020 could be busy.
NASA is planning to launch another rover, similar to Curiosity but with a different set of instruments that will search for the building blocks of life. A collaboration between the European Space Agency and Russia will launch the ExoMars, which will also carry instruments to try to answer whether life could have ever existed on Mars.NASA is planning to launch another rover, similar to Curiosity but with a different set of instruments that will search for the building blocks of life. A collaboration between the European Space Agency and Russia will launch the ExoMars, which will also carry instruments to try to answer whether life could have ever existed on Mars.
China, Japan, the United Arab Emirates and India also intend to launch spacecraft to Mars in 2020.China, Japan, the United Arab Emirates and India also intend to launch spacecraft to Mars in 2020.