InSight: Difference between revisions

On 22 November 2017, ''InSight'' completed testing in a thermal vacuum, also known as TVAC testing, where the spacecraft is put in simulated space conditions with reduced pressure and various thermal loads.{{cite news|url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2017/11/mars-insight-passes-tvac-testing-2018-launch/|title=Mars InSight mission passes TVAC testing ahead of 2018 launch|work=[[NASASpaceFlight.com]]|first=Chris|last=Bergin|date=22 November 2017|access-date=6 January 2018}} On 23 January 2018, after a long storage, its solar panels were once again deployed and tested, and a second silicon chip containing 1.6 million names from the public was added to the lander.{{cite web|url=https://mars.nasa.gov/news/8301/nasas-next-mars-lander-spreads-its-solar-wings/|title=NASA's Next Mars Lander Spreads its Solar Wings|publisher=NASA|first=Andrew|last=Good|date=23 January 2018}}

 

The InSight lander, powered by solar panels and batteries, relies on periodic wind gusts called "cleaning events" to reduce dust accumulation on the panels. Elysium Planitia, the landing site of InSight, has experienced fewer cleaning events than needed to keep the science operations powered. In February 2021, at the start of the Martian winter, InSight's solar cells were producing 27% of capacity due to a thick covering of dust on the panels. At that time NASA began the process of putting the lander into hibernation mode, shutting down data-gathering instruments on a schedule to conserve enough power to keep the lander electronics warm through the Martian winter. NASA hopes that weather conditions will improve and allow InSight to store enough energy to come out of hibernation in July 2021.{{cite web |url=https://www.sciencealert.com/nasa-s-insight-lander-enters-hibernation-as-dust-puts-it-at-risk-of-an-energy-crisis |title=NASA's Insight Mars Lander Is 'in Crisis', And Has Entered Emergency Hibernation |last=McFall-Johnsen |first=Morgan |date=15 April 2021 |website=Science Alert |access-date=15 April 2021}}

In May 2021, some generation capacity was restored by using the arm to position sand so it could blow onto the solar panels and scour them clean.[https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/nasa-insight-mars-lander-dumped-233501798.html NASA’s InSight Mars lander dumped dirt on itself on purpose]