Writing Assignment_ Exploring Recent Robotic Spacecraft Missions - Astro
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Georgia State University *
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1010
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Astronomy
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Apr 3, 2024
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Anonymous
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Astro 1010
05 March 2024
Insight - A Look Into Mars’ “Inner Space”
Insight is a Mars lander capable of giving Mars its first in-depth diagnosis. Equipped with
seismic, Geodesy, and heat transport, it would be the first robotic outerspace lander to infiltrate Mars. Scientists at NASA hoped that studying Mars’ structure would answer questions about the formation of other rocky structures in the solar system. Insights sole purpose revolved around Mars and its rocky red composition. The lander's innovative technology and overall structure allow it to detect Mars's inner workings and enable scientists to answer mysteries surrounding the red planet. Insight’s primary mission objective was to determine the level of tectonic activity on Mars and understand its evolution and formation. It is an Atlas V-401 model with two panels on each side that resemble solar panels. It has two extensions attached with thick orange metal, one dome-shaped and the other rectangular, with a pole sticking out. Insight was launched on May 5th, 2018, from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California and headed to Mars. Some mission objectives for the lander were to study Mars’s composition and seismic activity on Mars. It aimed to answer long-asked questions regarding Mar’s crust, mantle, and core. Along with temperature levels involving the interior of Mars.
Insight has made ample scientific discoveries; for example, it detected the first quake on another planet, found a magnetic “ghost” from an old electrical field that flowed throughout
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Mars’ interior and studied the dust storms and other weather activity on Mars. More important discoveries in insight would be new information regarding Mars's crust, mantle, and core. Furthermore, Insight felt its fair share of meteor impacts, which led to the discovery of water and
ice buried underground. These discoveries were groundbreaking at NASA, and while they answered questions regarding seismic activity and the composition of Mars, discoveries such as finding ice and water underground raised more questions.
Mars is known for its harsh dust storms, likely the number one reason so many robots sent to space eventually die out. Whether it is due to low batteries or equipment malfunctions, these dust storms cause significant issues for any space equipment, including Insight. In a post made by NASA on February 15th, 2022, they stated that “several weeks after the end of a dust storm on Mars, the solar panels of NASA’s InSight lander are producing almost as much power as they did before the storm.” (NASA, n.d). While they hoped this power would last till the Summer, it lasted for far longer, going into January of that year and exiting safe mode (a mode where energy is only used for basic necessity in the hope of preserving energy). Insight continued its work while NASA’s mission team assessed the damage the dust storm caused to its solar panels.
Ultimately, after more than four years (twice its life expectancy!), Insight completed its mission due to dust accumulation on its solar panels. NASA said the mission would be over if Insight missed two communications. While they continued to listen for communications from the
lander, it was unlikely they would hear from it again, as Insight’s last reported message was sent on December 15th, 2022. While it is sad that the lander's mission has finally ended, it is important to remember its work and how many discoveries it made. Insight’s mission was vital
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to NASA and the world. The information gathered helps us better understand Mars, Earth, and other terrestrial planets. Mars is fascinating, with it being the closest planet to Earth because it may be possible to live there one day. With more and more research going into the exploration of Mars, it is enough to make anyone wonder if we will ever reach a point where Mars could be a second Earth; I chose this mission because of that. Insight’s work is incredibly fascinating. From its build to the functions of its equipment to its discoveries, one can not help but be in utter awe of both NASA and Insight. Another reason I chose this mission is because it has a beginning and end. While it is
sad to think that the lander's mission is over, it gives some closure knowing what happened and why NASA eventually decided to declare the mission done. Insight has paved the way for further robotic space equipment to be sent to Mars and other planets in our solar system, including our moon. From finding ice and water buried underground to detecting 1,319 quakes, the lander has helped scientists gain knowledge of the red planet and potentially answered questions regarding other similar planets. While NASA has tried to send spacecraft to clean off Insights solar panels and failed, I still have hope. I never knew I could feel so strongly for a robot, especially one I have never met, but learning about Insight has astonished and upset me. Overall, I hope that Insight’s discoveries encourage NASA and other countries to set off into space and continue to explore both Mars and other planets, as it
is fascinating and crucial to gain more knowledge on what lies outside of Earth’s atmosphere.
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Works Cited
mars.nasa.gov. “Goals | Science – NASA’s InSight Mars Lander.” NASA’s InSight Mars Lander
, 2019, mars.nasa.gov/insight/mission/science/goals/.
---. “InSight Mission Overview.” NASA’s InSight Mars Lander
, 2018, mars.nasa.gov/insight/mission/overview/.
---. “InSight Top Science Results.” NASA’s InSight Mars Lander
, mars.nasa.gov/insight/mission/science/results/.
---. “NASA’s InSight Sees Power Levels Stabilize after Dust Storm.” NASA’s InSight Mars Lander
, 11 Jan. 2022, mars.nasa.gov/news/9110/nasas-insight-sees-power-levels-
stabilize-after-dust-storm/?site=insight. Accessed 8 Mar. 2024.
NASA Retires InSight Mars Lander Mission after Years of Science - NASA
. 21 Dec. 2022,
www.nasa.gov/missions/insight/nasa-retires-insight-mars-lander-mission-after-years-of-
science/. Accessed 8 Mar. 2024.