1.52
AU FROM SUN
DISTANCE
227,388,763 km
4 years, 230 days
MISSION DURATION
TOTAL
358
KG
LAUNCH MASS
1
TARGETS
Mars
InSight is a lander mission by NASA / JPL targeting Mars. Launched May 5, 2018. Currently 1.52 AU from the Sun.
ABOUT INSIGHT
InSight (Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport) studied the deep interior of Mars from 2018 to 2022. Its seismometer detected over 1,300 marsquakes and determined that Mars has a liquid iron core. The mission ended when dust accumulation on its solar panels reduced power below operational levels.
KEY DISCOVERIES
- Mars is seismically active (detected marsquakes)
- Mars has a liquid iron core about 1,830 km radius
- Mars crust is thinner than expected (24-72 km)
- Detected meteoroid impacts on Mars in real time
TECHNOLOGY & FIRSTS
- First mission to study Mars deep interior
- Most sensitive seismometer ever deployed on another planet
SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS (6)
SEIS (Seismometer)
HP3 (Heat Flow Probe)
RISE (Rotation/Interior Structure)
IDC/ICC (cameras)
TWINS (weather sensors)
Pressure sensor
SPACECRAFT SPECIFICATIONS
Launch Mass358 kg (789 lbs)
PowerSolar panels
Launch VehicleAtlas V 401
Launch DateMay 5, 2018
Arrival DateNovember 26, 2018
Mission EndDecember 21, 2022
ProgramDiscovery
MISSION TRAJECTORY
1
Mars
OTHER MARS MISSIONS