InSight facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
InSight

The InSight lander with solar panels deployed during testing
Names	InSight GEMS Discovery 12
Mission type	Mars lander
Operator	NASA / JPL
Mission duration	Planned: 709 sols (2 years) Final: 1440 sols (4 years, 19 days)
Spacecraft properties
Manufacturer	Lockheed Martin Space
Launch mass	694 kg (1,530 lb)
Landing mass	358 kg (789 lb)
Dimensions	6.0 × 1.56 × 1.0 m (19.7 × 5.1 × 3.3 ft) (deployed)
Power	600 watts
Start of mission
Launch date	5 May 2018, 11:05:01 UTC
Rocket	Atlas V 401 AV-078
Launch site	Vandenberg, SLC-3E
Contractor	United Launch Alliance
Entered service	26 November 2018
End of mission
Disposal	Decommissioned
Declared	21 December 2022
Last contact	15 December 2022 (official)
Mars lander
Landing date	26 November 2018, 19:52:59 UTC MSD 51511 05:14 AMT
Landing site	Elysium Planitia 4°30′09″N 135°37′24″E / 4.5024°N 135.6234°E / 4.5024; 135.6234 (InSight landing site)
Flyby of Mars
Spacecraft component	Mars Cube One (MarCO)
Closest approach	26 November 2018, 19:52:59 UTC
Distance	3,500 km (2,200 mi)
InSight mission logo Discovery Program ← GRAIL Lucy →

The Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport (InSight) mission was a robot that landed on Mars. Its main job was to study the planet's deep inside. InSight was built by Lockheed Martin Space and managed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). Some of its science tools were made by European space agencies.

The mission launched on May 5, 2018, and landed successfully on Mars on November 26, 2018. It touched down in a flat area called Elysium Planitia. InSight worked on Mars for about four years.

InSight's main goals were to:

• Place a special tool called a seismometer (SEIS) on Mars to measure marsquakes (like earthquakes on Mars). This helped scientists create 3D maps of Mars' inside.
• Use a heat probe (HP³) to measure how much heat escapes from Mars. This helped them understand how rocky planets like Mars, Earth, Venus, and Mercury formed and changed over time.

The mission was supposed to launch earlier, in 2016, but a problem with one of its instruments caused a delay. NASA fixed the tool, and the mission launched in 2018.

InSight landed safely on Mars. However, dust built up on its solar panels, making it hard for the spacecraft to get enough power. NASA tried to save power by putting it in a special low-power mode. On December 20, 2022, NASA announced that InSight had stopped communicating with Earth on December 15, 2022. The mission officially ended on December 21, 2022.

Mission History

Choosing the Mission

InSight was first called GEMS (Geophysical Monitoring Station). NASA changed its name in 2012. Out of 28 ideas, InSight was one of three chosen in 2011 to be studied in more detail. In August 2012, it was picked for development and launch.

To save money and lower risks, the mission reused the landing system from the Phoenix lander, which landed successfully on Mars in 2008.

Launch Delays

Building the InSight lander began in May 2014. Testing started in May 2015.

A problem with the seismometer (SEIS) caused NASA to delay the launch from March 2016 to May 2018. The rest of the spacecraft was stored, and the rocket planned for InSight was used for another mission.

NASA announced on March 9, 2016, that InSight would be delayed until the 2018 launch window. This added about $150 million to the cost. The new launch date was May 5, 2018, with a landing on Mars planned for November 26, 2018. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) fixed the seismometer.

In late 2017 and early 2018, InSight went through more tests. Its solar panels were tested again. Also, a second small chip with 1.6 million names from the public was added to the lander.

Dust on Mars and Mission End

InSight used solar panels and batteries for power. It needed wind gusts, called "cleaning events," to blow dust off its panels. But the landing site, Elysium Planitia, did not have enough of these winds.

By February 2021, during the Martian winter, dust covered the panels so much that they only produced 27% of their normal power. NASA started putting InSight into a "hibernation mode" to save power. This meant shutting down some science tools to keep the lander warm.

In May 2021, the robotic arm was used to drop sand near the solar panels. The wind then blew this sand onto the panels, helping to scrub some dust off. This helped restore some power.

By May 2022, there was too much dust on the panels to continue the mission fully. InSight was only getting one-tenth of the power it had when it first arrived. NASA put the lander into a low-power mode in July 2022 to keep looking for marsquakes. NASA kept watching InSight until the end of 2022. The mission officially ended on December 21, 2022, after the spacecraft stopped communicating.

What InSight Studied

Marsquakes and Inside Mars

Earlier missions, like the Viking spacecraft in 1976, also carried seismometers to Mars. These tools measure ground vibrations. The Viking 2 seismometer did work and sent data back. It detected vibrations from Mars' winds. It also found one possible marsquake, but it was hard to be sure because other data was missing.

To do better, InSight had many more sensors. It was placed directly on the surface of Mars and had a special shield to block wind.

Seismometers were also left on the Moon by the Apollo 11 mission in 1969 and other Apollo missions. These helped scientists learn a lot about moonquakes. The Apollo seismic network worked until 1977 and found at least 28 moonquakes.

One of InSight's goals was to compare seismic data from Earth, the Moon, and Mars. Scientists wanted to use the waves from marsquakes and meteorite impacts to study deep inside Mars, all the way to its core.

On May 4, 2022, InSight detected a very large marsquake, estimated to be a magnitude 5.

In October 2023, scientists used InSight's information to report that Mars might have a hot, melted rock layer (like a magma ocean) under its surface.

InSight's Goals

InSight was designed to study the deep inside of Mars. It aimed to understand how the rocky planets in our Solar System (like Earth, Mars, Venus, and Mercury) formed more than four billion years ago.

By studying the size, thickness, and density of Mars' core, mantle, and crust, InSight gave clues about how all rocky planets developed. Planets start as small bits of rock that stick together (this is called accretion). As they grow, their insides heat up and change, forming a core, mantle, and crust. InSight helped scientists understand this process better.

The mission aimed to find out if Mars has any seismic activity (marsquakes). It also measured how fast heat escapes from Mars' inside. Scientists wanted to know the size of Mars' core and if it was liquid or solid. This was the first time such detailed data was collected for Mars.

InSight also studied how meteorite impacts affect Mars. This could help us learn about similar events on Earth. Mars is thought to hold the best record of early planet formation because it's big enough to have changed inside, but small enough to still show signs of those early changes. The main science part of the mission was planned to last for two years.

In March 2021, based on over 500 marsquakes detected by InSight, NASA reported that Mars' core is smaller than thought before. It is between 1,810 and 1,860 kilometers (1,120 and 1,160 miles) wide, which is about half the size of Earth's outer core. This suggests Mars' core might contain lighter elements.

InSight Design

The InSight lander was based on the design of the Phoenix Mars lander from 2008. Because InSight used solar panels for power, it landed near Mars' equator. This spot gets the most sunlight all year round. The mission also included two small relay satellites called Mars Cube One (MarCO), which launched with InSight.

The InSight spacecraft had three main parts: the cruise stage (for travel), the entry, descent, and landing system (for getting to the surface), and the lander itself.

Lander Details

• Mass: The lander weighed about 358 kilograms (789 pounds) on Earth. This included about 50 kg (110 pounds) of science tools.
• Size: It was about 6.0 meters (20 feet) wide with its solar panels open. The main body was about 1.56 meters (5.1 feet) wide.
• Robotic Arm: The arm was 1.8 meters (5.9 feet) long.

Power

InSight got its power from two round solar panels. Each panel was 2.15 meters (7.1 feet) across when fully open. These panels folded out like a fan after landing.

• It used rechargeable batteries.
• On its first full day on Mars, the solar panels made 4.6 kilowatt-hours of energy. This was a new record for a Mars lander.

Science Tools (Payload)

InSight's lander carried about 50 kilograms (110 pounds) of science tools. It performed three main experiments using SEIS, HP³, and RISE.

• The Seismic Experiment for Interior Structure (SEIS) was a very sensitive seismometer. It measured marsquakes and other movements inside Mars. It also detected meteorite impacts. This helped scientists understand Mars' history and structure. SEIS was provided by the French Space Agency (CNES). It could also detect atmospheric waves and tiny pulls from Mars' moon Phobos.
• The Heat Flow and Physical Properties Package (HP³), provided by the German Aerospace Center (DLR), included a heat flow probe. This probe, nicknamed "the mole", was designed to dig 5 meters (16 feet) below Mars' surface. It had heat sensors to study how heat moves inside Mars. This would reveal unique information about the planet's history. The mole's digging part was designed by a Polish company.
• The Rotation and Interior Structure Experiment (RISE) used the lander's radio to precisely measure how Mars spins. This helped scientists learn about the size and density of Mars' core and mantle. This information helps us understand how rocky planets like Earth form.
• Temperature and Winds for InSight (TWINS) was a weather station that watched the temperature and winds at the landing site. It was made by the Spanish Astrobiology Center.
• Laser RetroReflector for InSight (LaRRI) was a special mirror that allowed orbiting spacecraft to bounce lasers off InSight. This helped pinpoint the lander's exact location on Mars.
• The Instrument Deployment Arm (IDA) was a 1.8-meter (5.9-foot) robotic arm. It placed the SEIS, HP³, and a wind and thermal shield onto Mars' surface. It also had a camera.
• The Instrument Deployment Camera (IDC) was a color camera on the robotic arm. It took pictures of the tools on the lander's deck and the area around the landing site.
• The Instrument Context Camera (ICC) was another color camera, mounted below the lander's deck. It had a wide view of the landing area.

The two small MarCO CubeSats were launched with InSight. They flew separately to Mars and helped relay data during InSight's landing.

Test Lander

JPL also built a full-size model of the lander called ForeSight. This model was used to practice placing the instruments and to test ways to reduce noise from the seismometer.

Journey to Mars

Launch into Space

On February 28, 2018, InSight was flown by a C-17 cargo plane to Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. There, it was prepared for launch.

The spacecraft launched on May 5, 2018, on an Atlas V rocket. This was the first time an American mission to another planet launched from California.

The journey to Mars took 6.5 months, covering about 301 million miles (484 million kilometers). InSight landed on November 26, 2018. After a successful landing, a three-month period began to set up the science instruments. The mission was planned to last for two years.

Travel to Mars

After launching from Earth on May 5, 2018, InSight traveled through space for 6.5 months. It covered about 301 million miles (484 million kilometers) before landing on November 26 of that year.

The InSight cruise stage left Earth at a speed of about 10,000 kilometers per hour (6,200 mph). The MarCO probes traveled separately but launched at the same time.

During its trip, InSight made several small course corrections. The final adjustment was made on November 25, 2018, the day before it landed. A few hours before reaching Mars' atmosphere, the cruise stage separated from the lander.

Landing on Mars

On November 26, 2018, around 7:53 PM UTC, mission control received a signal that InSight had successfully landed on Elysium Planitia. This signal came through the Mars Cube One (MarCO) satellites. After landing, it took about three months to set up the science instruments. Then, InSight began its mission of observing Mars.

The spacecraft weighed about 1,340 pounds (608 kg) when it entered Mars' atmosphere. InSight's landing had three main parts:

• Entry: The spacecraft, protected by a heat shield, entered Mars' atmosphere.
• Parachute Descent: A large parachute opened to slow the lander down.
• Rocket Descent: Closer to the ground, the parachute was released, and rockets fired to slow the lander even more before it touched down.

Here's a quick look at the landing steps:

• On November 25, 2018, the last course correction was made.
• On November 26, 2018, the cruise stage separated.
• The spacecraft hit the upper Martian atmosphere at about 12,300 miles per hour (19,800 km/h).
• The heat shield got very hot, reaching about 1,500 degrees Celsius (2,700 °F).
• At about 385 meters per second (860 mph) and 11,100 meters (36,400 feet) above the surface, the parachute opened.
• The heat shield was dropped.
• The landing legs extended.
• The rockets turned on to slow the lander.
• About 50 meters (160 feet) from the ground, it slowed to about 5 miles per hour (8 km/h).
• It touched down, and the rockets turned off.
• Surface operations began!

The lander weighed about 358 kg (789 pounds) on Earth. But on Mars, where gravity is weaker (about 0.376 times Earth's gravity), it felt like it weighed only 135 kg (298 pounds).

A few hours after landing, NASA's 2001 Mars Odyssey orbiter confirmed that InSights solar panels had opened and were making enough power. Odyssey also sent back the first pictures of InSights landing site. More images were taken to create 3D views, helping InSight find the best spots to place its heat probe and seismometer.

Landing Site

InSight's science goals didn't depend on a specific feature on Mars. So, landing sites were chosen for practical reasons. They needed to be:

• Near Mars' equator for good sunlight on the solar panels.
• At a low elevation to help slow down during landing.
• Flat and mostly free of rocks for a safe landing.
• Soft enough for the heat probe to dig into the ground.

A good area that met these needs was Elysium Planitia. All 22 possible landing sites were in this region.

In March 2017, the final landing site was chosen. It is in western Elysium Planitia. The landing site is about 600 kilometers (370 miles) north of where the Curiosity rover is exploring.

On November 26, 2018, the spacecraft landed successfully. In early December 2018, images from space showed InSight and its landing parts on Mars. This helped pinpoint the lander's exact position.

What InSight Did on Mars

On November 26, 2018, NASA announced that InSight had landed successfully. The weather tools and magnetometer (which measures magnetic fields) were working. It took about three months to set up the main science instruments. After landing, the solar panels opened up. InSight then sent back its status and some images. On its first day on Mars, it set a new record for solar power generated in one Martian day.

On December 7, 2018, InSight recorded the sounds of Martian winds using its seismometer. This was the first time the sound of Mars' wind was heard.

On December 19, 2018, the SEIS seismometer was placed on Mars' surface by the robotic arm. It became fully operational in February 2019. After that, the heat probe was deployed on February 12, 2019.

In April 2019, NASA announced that InSight had detected its first marsquake.

In September 2019, researchers reported that InSight found strange magnetic pulses and oscillations on Mars.

By February 2020, studies from InSight showed that Mars has active quakes, dust devils, and magnetic pulses. The Martian magnetic field at the landing site was found to be about 10 times stronger than expected and changed quickly.

In early 2021, the InSight team tried to detect the landing of the Mars 2020 mission (with the Perseverance Rover) using its seismometers. However, InSight did not detect the landing. This helped show that Mars' ground does not carry seismic waves very well.

On April 12, 2021, InSight went into emergency hibernation because its solar panels were covered in Martian dust. It woke up and started sending images again on April 14.

On May 3, 2021, InSight used its robotic arm to trickle sand next to a solar panel. The team hoped the wind would blow this sand onto the panel to clean it. This trick helped boost power by 30 watt-hours per Martian day.

In July 2021, studies using InSight's data confirmed that the center of Mars is molten (melted). Mars' crust was also found to be thinner than expected.

In January 2022, InSight went into a "safe mode" due to a regional dust storm. This storm reduced sunlight, causing a power drop. It left safe mode on January 19, 2022, but its science instruments remained off for a while.

As of May 2022, InSight had recorded 1,313 marsquakes. The seismometer, radio experiment, and weather instruments continued to work until the mission ended in December 2022. The mission was retired because dust buildup on the solar panels meant it could no longer generate enough power.

Heat Flow and Physical Properties Package (HP³)

On February 28, 2019, the Heat Flow and Physical Properties Package probe (the mole) started digging into Mars' surface. This probe was meant to dig 5 meters (16 feet) deep. However, it only went about 0.35 meters (1.1 feet) deep. After many tries, the effort was given up in January 2021.

In October 2019, scientists realized that the soil on Mars wasn't providing enough friction for the mole to dig deeper. It was just bouncing around. They tried a method called "pinning," where they pressed the robotic arm's scoop against the mole to create more friction. This worked for a while, but then the mole backed out again.

By August 2020, the team made some progress by using the scoop to push the mole deeper. They also used the scoop to fill the hole with soil, burying the mole completely for the first time.

However, on January 14, 2021, the heat probe part of the mission was declared over. The soil at the landing site was not suitable for the instrument. Even with all the help, the mole only went 2 to 3 centimeters (about 1 inch) below the surface. To get useful science data, it needed to go at least 3 meters (10 feet) deep. So, the mole did not achieve its main science goal.

Even though the mole didn't dig deep, its operations still gave scientists useful information. They learned about the soil at the InSight site, how to dig on Mars, and new ways to use the lander's robotic arm.

MarCO Spacecraft

The Mars Cube One (MarCO) spacecraft were two small satellites called CubeSats. They traveled with InSight to Mars. Their job was to test if CubeSats could work in deep space and to help send real-time updates during InSights landing. The two CubeSats, MarCO A and B, were identical. They separated from InSight soon after launch and flew alongside it. They didn't orbit Mars but flew past it, relaying InSights data as it landed.

The success of the MarCO spacecraft showed that CubeSats can be used for missions far from Earth. On February 5, 2019, NASA reported that the CubeSats had gone silent and were not expected to be heard from again.

• Mass: Each weighed about 13.5 kilograms (30 pounds).
• Size: Each was about 30 x 20 x 10 centimeters (12 x 8 x 4 inches).
• They had special antennas and radios to send and receive signals.
• They also had a small wide-angle camera.

The InSight Team

The InSight team included scientists and engineers from many countries and organizations. Scientists from the U.S., France, Germany, Switzerland, and other countries worked together on the mission.

W. Bruce Banerdt was the lead scientist for the InSight mission and the SEIS instrument. Suzanne Smrekar was the lead for the HP³ instrument. Many other talented people from organizations like NASA, the Centre National d'Études Spatiales (CNES), and the German Aerospace Center (DLR) were part of the team.

Names on Mars

As a way to involve the public, NASA allowed people to send their names to Mars aboard InSight. Because of the launch delay, there were two chances to sign up. In total, 2.4 million names were sent. These names were etched onto small silicon chips, with letters incredibly tiny – only 1/1000th the width of a human hair. The first chip was put on the lander in November 2015, and the second on January 23, 2018.

Images for kids

• 

  InSight lander loaded on a Boeing C-17 Globemaster III (December 2015).

• 

  InSight landing zone target with other NASA landing zones.

• 

  Global view of Mars. InSight landed in Elysium Plantia. Curiosity rover is in Gale crater.

• 

  Entry, Descent, and Landing sequence for InSight.

• PIA23278-MarsInSightLanderTestSandbox-ActorBradPitt-20190906.jpg

  Actor Brad Pitt visits the InSight test "sandbox" (September 2019).

• 

  "Rolling Stones Rock" – a result from the landing (November 2018).

See also

In Spanish: InSight para niños