Present on Mars since November 2018, the InSight lander is in a delicate position. Its solar panels are indeed covered with dust and the energy is starting to run out, while the winter continues. Engineers plan to limit power-ups while waiting for better days.
Since landing west of Elysium Planitia, an expanse of lava found at the Martian equator, Insight has detected more than 500 Martian earthquakes . This valuable data will allow researchers to learn more about its internal composition. Two of them, larger than average, were detected on March 7 and 18 as the lander slowly began to close its eyes.
Over the past few months, InSight has indeed battled with the local weather. Unlike other sites explored by NASA as part of the Curiosity and Perseverance missions, powerful gusts of wind did not sweep through Elysium Planitia. These winds, called "cleaning events", are necessary to blow away the Martian red dust that has settled on the solar arrays.
As a result, InSight has trouble absorbing sunlight. Its solar panels were producing only 27% of their energy capacity in February , when winter was beginning to set in on Elysium Planitia.
So NASA decided to put the lander into "hibernation mode", turning off different instruments every day. Soon, Insight will stop all functions that are not necessary for its survival.
By shutting down its science operations, the lander should be able to conserve enough power to keep its systems warm during freezing Martian nights. On site, temperatures can drop to -60°C . However, nothing is guaranteed. "The amount of energy available over the next few months will really depend on the weather “, emphasizes Chuck Scott, project manager of InSight.
InSight is still in good condition, but the risk of a general failure is still present. If the lander's batteries were to fail, the robot may never recover. InSight is a good "zombie spaceship", programmed to recharge and restart once the sun comes up again. The problem is that in the meantime, the robot will have to expose itself to the Martian cold that a large part of the electronics could not bear .
Researchers suspect this is what happened to the Spirit and Opportunity rovers. The two did indeed run out of energy on the Martian surface and were unable to re-energize. Hoping that Insight does not meet the same fate as its predecessors.
The agency plans to restart all operations after the "good weather" returns in July. If successful, the lander will be able to continue its mission until 2022.
