For years after giving scientists an in-depth look at the interior structure of Mars, the world might be saying goodbye to NASA’s InSight lander, but not to the scientists who will take a closer look at the data collected for future exploration of Mars. March.

Is the InSight Mars lander still active?

NASA’s expedition to explore the Martian surface may have been successful for years, but like any other mission to alien planets, interior exploration using seismic surveys, geodesy and heat transport, or simply InSight , is set to phase out this summer.

According to a Tech Times report, NASA’s InSight Mars lander won’t bid farewell to the red-hued planet until four years after it landed in 2018. However, the data obtained will remain in Earth’s database in perpetuity. because they have helped scientists in their interpretation. and understanding of the Martian planet.

In retrospect, Earth became aware of events that were unique to Mars. InSight also provided NASA scientists with more data to analyze for future Mars missions.

Also Read: NASA Announces InSight Lander Only Has a Few Months Left to Scan the Martian Surface

What does the InSight lander do?

In a preview of the InSight Mars lander mission, NASA aims to study the internal structure of the planet. In return, provide answers to crucial questions regarding the development of the rocky planets of our inner solar system. At the same time, InSight is also analyzing tectonic activity and meteorite impacts on Mars.

Now, the lander’s mission to Mars will end with a series of data that will be used by scientists around the world for years to come. NASA told a press conference that InSight’s four-year presence on Mars “would help increase our knowledge of planet formation,” while also announcing the conclusion of InSight’s science activities.

The legacy involved was quite substantial. In a Phys org article, InSight was fitted with an ultra-sensitive seismometer and detected more than 1,300 “marsquakes”, as well as a magnitude five earthquake recorded on May 4, the largest ever recorded to date. .

On top of that, the seismometer used seismic waves that passed through different materials found on Mars and provided a picture of the planet’s innards.

Banerdt, who has spent more than a decade of his life working on the InSight Mars lander mission, said: “The interior was kind of a giant question mark, but we were able to map the interior. of Mars for the very first time in history.”

From this, scientists were able to establish that the core of Mars is and contains liquid. They were also able to measure the thickness of the Martian crust, which turned out to be less dense than originally thought and possibly made up of three layers.

However, a disconcerting discovery made by InSight is that despite thousands of earthquakes, none of them produced surface waves. The lack of surface waves on Mars could be attributed to severe fracture kilometers under InSight. It’s also possible that the quakes observed by InSight are occurring from deep within the planet, as they would not create powerful surface waves.

After its success, NASA now plans to adopt the seismometric approach elsewhere in the future. According to Lori Glaze, head of NASA’s planetary science division, “We would really like to set up a full network on the moon to really understand what’s going on there.”

Related Article: NASA’s InSight Continues Marsquake Hunt Despite Power Loss: Is the Mission Ending?

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Written by Thea Felicity

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