Just today, the women and men at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory celebrated when the InSight robot safely landed on our neighboring planet. The steps taken to perfect the arrival of the robot on Mars were just as impactful on the world of space exploration as the physical probe and its gatherings. The data capturing technologies used to send signals back to planet Earth hitched a ride on the probe and were successful in supplying scientists with the information regarding the landing of the probe. The article mentions that with this successful use of these technologies, they will be more frequently used. The goal of the InSight probe is to examine the interior of Mars through a technology that measures tremors on Mars to help scientists determine what the rocky layers are composed of, a large thermometer, and a technology that uses radio transmissions to determine the core of the planet based on its wobbling on its axis. This study of composition will be the first of its kind on another planet, an incredible accomplishment for those who put in so much effort on the development of the probe.
Similar to the Luna 11, a Soviet probe sent to the moon in August of 1966 to study the composition of the Moon, the InSight robot will further the understanding of our neighbor in the sky. The progress being made with the probe to intensely study the planet is an enormous step for the field and is unbelievably fascinating. To think that, as I type this analysis, observations are being made that have never been made before is mind boggling and I am eager to see how the probe will change our understanding of our solar system.
https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-46351114
I'm so excited to see how missions like this to Mars could turn into more manned missions, and someday bringing non-astronauts on a space trip too. While space personally terrifies me, I think the exploration of it is so cool and there's always more to discover.
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