November 23, 2024

Almost Lights Out: See NASA’s InSight Mars Lander’s Final Selfie

NASAs InSight Mars lander took this last selfie on April 24, 2022, the 1,211 th Martian day, or sol, of the objective. The lander is covered with much more dust than it remained in its very first selfie, taken in December 2018, not long after landing– or in its second selfie, composed of images taken in March and April 2019. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
NASAs InSight Mars lander took this final selfie on April 24, 2022, the 1,211 th Martian day, or sol, of the mission. The lander is covered with much more dust than it was in its very first selfie (see listed below), taken in December 2018, not long after landing– or in its second selfie (see listed below), composed of images taken in March and April 2019.
This is NASA InSights first complete selfie on Mars. It displays the landers solar panels and deck. On top of the deck are its science instruments, weather sensor booms, and UHF antenna. The selfie was handled December 6, 2018 (Sol 10). Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
This is NASA InSights second complete selfie on Mars. Given that taking its first selfie, the lander has actually removed its heat probe and seismometer from its deck, putting them on the Martian surface area; a thin finish of dust now covers the spacecraft. This selfie is a mosaic comprised of 14 images handled March 15 and April 11– the 106th and 133rd Martian days, or sols, of the mission– by InSights Instrument Deployment Camera, located on its robotic arm. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
The arm requires to move a number of times in order to catch a full selfie. Since InSights dirty photovoltaic panels are producing less power, the team will quickly put the landers robotic arm in its resting position (called the “retirement posture”) for the last time in May of 2022.
This image rotates between Insights very first and last selfies, for contrast purposes. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) manages the InSight objective for NASAs Science Mission Directorate. InSight belongs to NASAs Discovery Program, managed by the agencys Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. Lockheed Martin Space in Denver constructed the InSight spacecraft, including its cruise phase and lander, and supports spacecraft operations for the objective.

NASAs InSight Mars lander took this last selfie on April 24, 2022, the 1,211 th Martian day, or sol, of the objective. The lander is covered with far more dust than it was in its first selfie, taken in December 2018, not long after landing– or in its second selfie, made up of images taken in March and April 2019. The selfie was taken on December 6, 2018 (Sol 10). Because taking its very first selfie, the lander has removed its heat probe and seismometer from its deck, positioning them on the Martian surface; a thin covering of dust now covers the spacecraft.