InSight Mars mission nears end
Posted: Sun, May 22, 2022, 9:17 AM ET (1317 GMT)
NASA confirmed Tuesday that the end is in sight for the InSight Mars lander. Project officials said that dust accumulating on the spacecraft's solar panels, along with increased dust in the atmosphere from seasonal changes, mean power levels are dropping to critical levels. Spacecraft controllers will start turning off science instruments and put the lander's robotic arm into a final "retirement pose" in the next few weeks, and operate the main instrument, a seismometer, intermittently through the summer. Power levels will likely cause the spacecraft to cease operations entirely by the end of the year, which NASA had anticipated for some time.
NASA confirmed Tuesday that the end is in sight for the InSight Mars lander. Project officials said that dust accumulating on the spacecraft's solar panels, along with increased dust in the atmosphere from seasonal changes, mean power levels are dropping to critical levels. Spacecraft controllers will start turning off science instruments and put the lander's robotic arm into a final "retirement pose" in the next few weeks, and operate the main instrument, a seismometer, intermittently through the summer. Power levels will likely cause the spacecraft to cease operations entirely by the end of the year, which NASA had anticipated for some time.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
NASA releases report on Starliner crewed test flight problems
Posted: Sun, Feb 22 11:45 AM ET (1645 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Thursday, February 26
Norway to Join Europe Starlink Rival Shortly, Minister Says
Bloomberg News — 5:55 am ET (1055 GMT) Satellite Operator Eutelsat Seeks €1.5 Billion to Refinance Debt
Bloomberg News — 5:51 am ET (1051 GMT) Space Command offers retention, relocation bonuses for civilians to move from Colo. Springs to Alabama
KOAA-TV Colorado Springs — 5:51 am ET (1051 GMT) UT To Enhance U.S. Space Force Detection, Response to Security Threats
Univ. of Texas Austin — 5:51 am ET (1051 GMT) Lab at UT is first in U.S. to work with Space Force on threats
San Antonio Express-News — 5:51 am ET (1051 GMT) |
