← Back to Sessions

What, When, Why? An Overview of InSight Operations on Mars and Available Datasets

Description: 

NASA’s InSight lander was operational on the surface of Mars from November 26th 2018 until December 16th 2022 – a total of 1446 sols. InSight was equipped with a 6-component seismometer; temperature and wind sensors; a pressure sensor; a heat flow probe; a magnetometer; and two x-band radio antennae (for geodesy measurements). Throughout the mission these instruments were turned on whenever possible and throughout much of the first 700 sols there is a near-continuous data record from all instruments. Seismic data was recorded right up until the mission ended and the catalogue of Marsquakes produced by the Marsquake Service has been instrumental to our understanding of the interior structure of Mars and the seismicity and impact rates. Beyond the marsquakes there is a continuous seismic dataset waiting to be mined but this is contaminated with spurious signals from necessary operational procedures performed by the lander which also had a robotic arm with a camera, a scoop and a grapple. The arm was essential for instrument deployment and troubleshooting but created distinct signals and resonances within the seismic dataset. The mission involved several nominal activities including imaging the surrounding area, deploying the seismometer and heat flow probe to the surface, hammering by the heat flow probe, burying the seismic tether and performing soil elasticity experiments. There were also many more ad hoc activities including attempting to assist the probe in its burial and innovative ways to clean the solar panels. All these activities influence the data.
We will share a sol-by-sol guide to the operational activities of the mission and an accompanying catalogue of all available data – both scientific and housekeeping – throughout the mission with examples of characteristic signals generated by specific activities. This database will be an invaluable resource allowing future generations to avoid - or target - these spurious signals and so correctly use and interpret the entire dataset from this amazing mission.

Session: Exploring Planetary Interiors and Seismology: Observations, Models, Experiments and Future Missions [Poster]

Type: Poster

Date: 4/17/2025

Presentation Time: 08:00 AM (local time)

Presenting Author: Anna

Student Presenter: No

Invited Presentation: 

Poster Number: 102

Authors