InSight

InSight
Name	InSight
Mission type	Mars lander
Operator	NASA / Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Mission duration	Planned: 709 sols (728 days), Final: 1440 sols (≈4 Earth years)
Manufacturer	Lockheed Martin Space
Launch mass	694 kg
Landing mass	358 kg
Launch date	5 May 2018, 11:05 UTC
Launch rocket	Atlas V (401)
Launch site	Vandenberg Space Force Base, SLC-3E
Landing date	26 November 2018, 19:52:59 UTC
Landing site	Elysium Planitia, Mars
Programme	Discovery Program
Previous mission	Dawn
Next mission	Lucy

InSight. The Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport mission was a NASA Discovery Program Mars lander designed to study the deep interior of the Red Planet. Launched in 2018, it was the first mission dedicated to probing Mars's subsurface structure, crust, mantle, and core. Its data has fundamentally transformed the understanding of Martian geophysics and planetary formation.

Mission overview

The primary objective was to investigate the evolutionary processes that shaped the terrestrial planets of the inner Solar System by measuring Mars's vital signs. Managed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the mission sought to determine the size, composition, and physical state of the Martian core, mantle, and crust. It also aimed to measure the planet's internal heat flow and the rate of meteorite impacts. This geophysical focus distinguished it from previous missions like the Mars Exploration Rovers and the Curiosity rover, which emphasized surface geology and habitability.

Spacecraft design

The lander's design was based on the proven Phoenix lander architecture, built by Lockheed Martin Space. Key systems included a cruise stage for interplanetary travel and a robust aeroshell for atmospheric entry at Mars. The lander itself was a stationary platform with two circular solar arrays, resembling the design used for Viking landers. Critical components for landing included a heat shield, a parachute, and descent engines. The MarCO CubeSats, the first of their kind in deep space, accompanied the mission to provide real-time telemetry during the entry, descent, and landing phase.

Scientific instruments

The payload consisted of three primary instruments. The Seismic Experiment for Interior Structure was a highly sensitive seismometer provided by the French Space Agency and partners to detect marsquakes and impact signals. The Heat Flow and Physical Properties Package, contributed by the German Aerospace Center, included a self-hammering mole designed to burrow up to five meters and measure subsurface temperature. The Rotation and Interior Structure Experiment used the lander's X-band radio system in conjunction with the Deep Space Network to precisely measure Mars's rotational wobble, revealing details about its core.

Landing site and deployment

The selected landing zone was Elysium Planitia, a broad plain near the Martian equator chosen for its flat, rock-free terrain and low elevation. After touchdown, the lander's robotic arm, built by JPL, was instrumental in placing SEIS and HP³ onto the surface, a delicate operation that took several months. The deployment was complicated by unexpected soil properties at the HP³ site, which prevented the mole from achieving its intended depth despite extensive troubleshooting efforts by engineers at the German Aerospace Center.

Mission timeline and results

Launched aboard an Atlas V rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base, the lander successfully touched down on 26 November 2018. The mission far exceeded its primary duration, operating until communication was lost in December 2022. Key results included detecting over 1,300 marsquakes, confirming that Mars has a liquid core larger than previously estimated, and measuring a higher-than-expected heat flow. The seismology data provided the first direct evidence of Mars's crustal structure and recorded seismic signals from meteoroid impacts, including those observed by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.

Legacy and impact

The mission provided the first comprehensive geophysical map of another planet, creating a new field of comparative planetary science. Its data is crucial for understanding the formation and differentiation of rocky planets, including Earth and Venus. The technologies demonstrated, such as the MarCO CubeSats, will influence future interplanetary missions. InSight's findings are archived with the NASA Planetary Data System and continue to be analyzed by the international scientific community, informing the objectives of future missions like those proposed for the Moon and other planetary bodies.

Category:NASA spacecraft Category:Discovery Program Category:Missions to Mars Category:Spacecraft launched in 2018