The NASA InSight Lander has survived and touched down on Mars. The robot landed just before 8pm in GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) on the 26th of November. To signify this landing, the device took a few photos of the Red Planet. Sadly, I was too busy with work to watch the live feed of the robot landing upon the red surface. However, it was good to get home, relax before seeing the very first photo on Twitter.
This one (above) was the first one. As you can see the image is a bit messy. But, those dots where probably dust that was picked up as the robot went through Mars' atmosphere. And, to be fair, that image was only the first of many. A very important first photo though. The photo was sent back to mission control on earth by the help of the Mars Cube One (Mars CO) spaceship. Once the dust shield was removed, the NASA InSight Lander rewarded us with a clear photo of Mar's surface....
This event was all very exciting - and I reckon very terrifying for those made the little NASA InSight Lander. Especially as the whole NASA InSight project cost around $850millon (£640.27millon) to run. But, this landing only came from 6 years of hard work from the scientists and engineers at NASA. Lets not mention the 6 long months of the robot traveling through the gap between Earth and Mars.
The NASA InSight Lander touched down upon a featureless part of Mars which has been called Elysium Planitia. Its 340 miles from a place on Mars known as Gale Crater where the Curiosity Rover of NASA landed in August 2012.
The robot's first job will be to collect temperature data from within the planet. This will happen by drilling a 5 metre hole into Mar's surface. This drill has heat probes place about that will accurately record the internal temperature. Plus, there are three seismographs connected to the InSight Lander. A seismograph is a piece of equipment which records earthquakes, volcanic eruptions or any sort of ground moment. NASA also want to measure the wobble of Mars when it rotates on its Axis. You might be asking why are the scientists at NASA doing this? And the answer is pretty straightforward. They want to map the 3D structure of the planet. To workout if all planets where made just like Earth. Therefore, increase their understanding of the formation and evolution of the Red Planet.
Further Links
Behold! Here's the 1st Photo from Mars, from the NASA InSight Lander
The awesome inside story of Nasa's Mars InSight landing (and all the cool science still to come)
📸 Wish you were here! @NASAInSight sent home its first photo after #MarsLanding:— NASA (@NASA) 26 November 2018
InSight’s view is a flat, smooth expanse called Elysium Planitia, but its workspace is below the surface, where it will study Mars’ deep interior. pic.twitter.com/3EU70jXQJw
This one (above) was the first one. As you can see the image is a bit messy. But, those dots where probably dust that was picked up as the robot went through Mars' atmosphere. And, to be fair, that image was only the first of many. A very important first photo though. The photo was sent back to mission control on earth by the help of the Mars Cube One (Mars CO) spaceship. Once the dust shield was removed, the NASA InSight Lander rewarded us with a clear photo of Mar's surface....
NASA's InSight lander sent back a new image from the surface of Mars after successfully landing on the Red Planet https://t.co/MwLUXebIJF (📷: @NASA) pic.twitter.com/CKtVMzTLDa— CNN (@CNN) 28 November 2018
This event was all very exciting - and I reckon very terrifying for those made the little NASA InSight Lander. Especially as the whole NASA InSight project cost around $850millon (£640.27millon) to run. But, this landing only came from 6 years of hard work from the scientists and engineers at NASA. Lets not mention the 6 long months of the robot traveling through the gap between Earth and Mars.
The NASA InSight Lander touched down upon a featureless part of Mars which has been called Elysium Planitia. Its 340 miles from a place on Mars known as Gale Crater where the Curiosity Rover of NASA landed in August 2012.
The robot's first job will be to collect temperature data from within the planet. This will happen by drilling a 5 metre hole into Mar's surface. This drill has heat probes place about that will accurately record the internal temperature. Plus, there are three seismographs connected to the InSight Lander. A seismograph is a piece of equipment which records earthquakes, volcanic eruptions or any sort of ground moment. NASA also want to measure the wobble of Mars when it rotates on its Axis. You might be asking why are the scientists at NASA doing this? And the answer is pretty straightforward. They want to map the 3D structure of the planet. To workout if all planets where made just like Earth. Therefore, increase their understanding of the formation and evolution of the Red Planet.
Further Links
Behold! Here's the 1st Photo from Mars, from the NASA InSight Lander
The awesome inside story of Nasa's Mars InSight landing (and all the cool science still to come)
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