End clap for the InSight mission, which will gradually wind down by the end of the year

On Mars since November 26, 2018, the InSight probe has already recorded more than 1,300 earthquakes, including one of magnitude 5 on the Richter scale… just before going into safe mode. In question, the lack of energy on the solar panels which are covered with dust. They produce ten times less than when the probe landed.

The initial mission was to last one Martian year (two Earth years) and it was extended for an additional Martian year. Unless there is a last minute surprise (with a storm coming to clean the solar panels), she shouldn’t go any further.

« Due to the reduced power, the team will soon put the robotic arm of the lander in its resting position for the last time by the end of the month. “. Designed to install the SEIS seismometer, this articulated arm has been useful more than once, in particular for cleaning the solar panels and burying the connecting cable.

If the situation continues in the same vein, InSight’s non-seismic instruments will rarely be on after the end of May “says NASA. “ The energy will be distributed in priority to the seismometer, which will operate at certain times of the day, such as at night, when the winds are weak and earthquakes are easier to “hear” ».

For its part, the seismometer should be extinguished by the end of the summer, thus concluding the scientific phase of the mission “. The lander will then still have enough power to operate and take a few pictures every once in a while and communicate with Earth, but that will be the beginning of the end.

« Around December, the team expects the power to be low enough that one day InSight will simply stop responding. “. The end of an adventure for which NASA and France are partners: the CNES has provided, with delay, the SEIS instrument.

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