Dust in the wind. 💨
Swipe to see what 1,211 Martian days, or sols, of exposure to the elements of Mars, looks like.
Our InSight Mars lander took its final selfie on April 24, 2022. Covered in a layer of dust, the second image displays the lander after operating in a limited capacity unable to generate the power levels of yesteryear.
The InSight Mars lander arrived on Mars on Nov. 26, 2018, powered by solar panels and equipped with instruments designed to measure Mars’ interior. The lander recorded invaluable weather data and studies of the remnants of Mars’ ancient magnetic field, as well as analysis of quakes that allowed scientists to measure the depth and composition of Mars’ crust, mantle, and core.
Since achieving its mission goals in its first Martian year (two Earth years) InSight has operated in an extended mission phase. However, as dust continues to accumulate on its panels less and less power is available. To continue its operation, power must be prioritized for the lander's seismometer, the instrument which measures marsquakes. At the current rate, InSight is expected to continue limited operation until about December when it will send its final signal home.
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
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