NASA Mars Orbiter captures dust-covered InSight Lander

NASA Mars Orbiter captures dust-covered InSight Lander
by Clarence Oxford
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Dec 17, 2024

NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) recently captured an image of the retired InSight lander, offering insights into dust accumulation on Mars. Taken on Oct. 23 using the orbiter's High-Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera, the image reveals InSight's solar panels now share the same reddish-brown hue as the Martian surface.

InSight, which landed in November 2018, was the first mission to detect "marsquakes" and provide detailed data about Mars' crust, mantle, and core. Over its four-year mission, engineers at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Southern California monitored dust buildup on its solar panels, which gradually limited its power supply.

NASA officially retired InSight in December 2022 after it stopped communicating with Earth due to insufficient power. Since then, engineers have continued to monitor for any radio signals, hoping wind might clear the solar panels. After two years without a signal, NASA will cease listening for InSight by the end of 2024.

The HiRISE image serves as a final farewell to the lander while also allowing scientists to study changes at the landing site over time.

"Even though we're no longer hearing from InSight, it's still teaching us about Mars," said Ingrid Daubar of Brown University. "By monitoring how much dust collects on the surface - and how much gets vacuumed away by wind and dust devils - we learn more about the wind, dust cycle, and other processes that shape the planet."

Dust and Surface Processes

Dust plays a significant role on Mars, influencing both the planet's atmosphere and its surface. Understanding its behavior helps scientists study Martian processes and aids engineers in planning future missions, especially those reliant on solar power. Dust accumulation on mechanical parts can affect their performance, making such studies critical.

During InSight's active years, scientists combined MRO imagery of dust devil tracks with wind sensor data from the lander. This revealed that dust devils, swirling wind phenomena, are less frequent in winter but more active in the Martian summer.

HiRISE imagery also contributed to meteoroid impact studies, as crater density helps determine the relative age of Martian surfaces. Unlike Earth, where tectonic activity recycles the surface, craters on Mars remain visible until dust gradually erases them. Scientists observed how fast dust covers impact craters to estimate their ages.

Similarly, the dark blast marks left by InSight's retrorocket thrusters during its 2018 landing are now fading to match the red-brown Martian terrain, showcasing the gradual effects of dust movement.

HiRISE has captured images of other Mars missions, including active rovers like Perseverance and Curiosity, and inactive ones such as Spirit, Opportunity, and the Phoenix lander.

Reflecting on InSight's legacy, Daubar commented, "It feels a little bittersweet to look at InSight now. It was a successful mission that produced lots of great science. Of course, it would have been nice if it kept going forever, but we knew that wouldn't happen."