Martian exploration robot InSight stopped communicating due to the heavy dustiness of the solar panels, NASA said. On the official page of the device on Twitter on Tuesday, December 20, a farewell post appeared with a photo.
“My charge is running low and this picture you see will most likely be the last one I can share with you. But do not despair, it was a productive time. If I manage to get in touch again, I will definitely answer. Thank you for staying with me.”
The domed element in the frame is a seismometer that monitors the vibrations of the Red Planet. InSight became the first ship to record marsquakes – more than a thousand in total. During the last one, the surface of Mars shook for 6 hours.
In addition, the device allowed not only to see, but also to hear the Martian whirlwind, called the dust devil, when it flew right over it last year.
InSight worked on the Red Planet for 4 years. His work began in November 2018 after landing on the Elysian Plain.