'Insight' Mars Lander Rendering Image Credit: NASA's official website
In all of the miracles of the solar system, there is no place other than the Earth that is more visible to scientists than Mars. Since humans first flew into the sky, we have sent 21 different spacecraft to study this red neighbor. Currently, there are still two The rover - 'Curiosity' and 'Phoenix' stick to the surface of Mars. In addition, there are six satellites orbiting Mars. Now, in order to uncover the hidden secrets of Mars, a new messenger - 'Insight' lander also embarked on the journey.
'Planet Explorer' for Mars 'Pulse'
At 19:05, May 5, 2018, Beijing time (7:05 pm, May 5th, US Eastern Time), NASA’s use of seismic surveys, geodetic surveys, and heat transfer for internal exploration ( ( InSight)) 'Mars Missions - 'Insight' Landing Launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, was launched on the U.S. launch of the Atlas V-401 rocket for the first time on the West Coast of the United States. Interplanetary launch mission.
The 'Insight' will be the first lander to face the surface of Mars after it landed near the Arctic Ice Cap of Mars in 2008. Unlike the 'Curious' rover, 'Insight' and 'Phoenix' A lander of the type No. does not roam around, but is firmly rooted in the landing site and explores its surroundings.
Previous Mars probes have investigated the surface of the red planet by studying gorges, volcanoes, rocks, and soil on Mars, but no one has attempted to study the earliest evolution of Mars, its composition, and this can only be achieved through the underground of Mars. Only by discovering that Mars is less active than Earth, it actually retains more complete records of its own nucleus, plutonium and shells.
According to NASA's official website, as the first lander to study the interior of Mars, 'Insight' is not only a mission to Mars, it is also a 'planetary explorer'. This will be the first time for more than 4.5 billion years for Mars.' Physical examination ', it will measure the 'pulse' of Mars (internal activity), 'body temperature' and 'reflection effect' (planetally shaken by the sun and its satellite gravity). Scientists will interpret this data to understand the history of Mars, internal The construction and activity will solve one of the most fundamental problems in the planetary and solar system sciences: the formation and evolution of rock planets in the solar system, including the Earth.
Highly professional equipment blessing
Mark Penning, one of the 'Insight' mission investigators, said: 'In order to spell out the complete puzzle of the formation of Earth-like planets, we need to understand the internal conditions of Mars. To that end, 'Insight' carries some highly specialized Equipment. '
The specialized equipment referred to by Penning mainly refers to two types of equipment: the 'Internal Structural Seismic Test' (SEIS) jointly developed by the French, German, Swiss scientific research team and NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. instrument , and the 'Heatflow and Physical Performance Detection Kit' (HP3) provided by the German Space Agency (DLR).
The 'Insight' will land in an area known as the 'Elysium Planitia', slightly north of the Curiosity rover. After landing, it will take two months to make use of it. The robotic arm placed the SEIS on the surface of Mars. According to the “Popular Science” website, this special seismograph is very sensitive and can monitor the atomic distance of the ground motion. Therefore, even if Mars only has an atomic distance vibration, 'Insight' The number can also be captured to help scientists outline the evolution of the internal structure of Mars.
Next, 'Insight' will send HP3. HP3 is actually a large thermometer, it will enter the ground about 5 meters, and stay in the soil for a full Martian year (687 Earth Days). While Mars is orbiting the sun The HP3 will monitor the internal temperature of Mars, and thus know how the heat flows inside Mars, and the effect of heat on the geological structure of Mars.
In addition, the 'Rotary and Internal Structure Experimenter' (RISE), led by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, will use a spacecraft communication system to accurately measure the rotation of Mars, thereby revealing the characteristics of the Mars kernel and the interaction between the core and the enthalpy. .
Two cubical satellites
'Insight' will not only be the first spacecraft to study the interior of Mars, but it will also create history from the other side.
According to NASA, along with the 'Insight', there is also an independent NASA technology experiment: 'Marco Cube One (MarCO). MarCO is made up of two mini-satellites. It will be the first time that the cube satellite technology will be in deep space. Debut and test. The two cubes have very interesting names 'Wall-E' and 'Eva'. They are the space robots in the 2008 hot Disney movie "Robot Story."
These two satellites are designed to test the communication and navigation functions of future missions and may assist in the communication of 'insight'. After entering the orbit around Mars, they will witness the 'insight' entering the atmosphere, and will The data was transmitted back to NASA's deep space network, which informed the mission team of the state of the landing process. If this relaying work was as effective as the mission team hoped, it could change the dangerous mission of the future planetary mission during the spacecraft’s entry into the atmosphere. Communication methods. Popular Science explained that normally, spacecraft entering the atmosphere rely on larger satellites to complete relay communications, but only when the spacecraft arrives at the planet. Small satellites like 'Mars Cubestar One' You can track and update task information all the way to increase the insurance factor for the task.
If this test is successful, then this technology is expected to provide NASA with fast communication capabilities so that scientists can quickly learn the state of the probe after landing on Mars.
Assuming all goes well, 'Insight' can give us a unique perspective to observe this famous neighbor planet. Shortly after landing, scientists will begin to study some of the biggest mysteries about this red planet. This will help us Learn more about where you are in the solar system.
Source: Science and Technology Daily
