🚀NASA's InSight lander just recorded its biggest quake on Mars ever

 

The mega-mars quake, which is 5 times stronger than the previous record, may be the last big find from the InSight Mars Lander.

NASA's InSight lander recently recorded the largest seismic activity ever detected on Mars. The quake, which measured 4.2 on the Richter scale, was detected by the lander's seismometer on April 6, 2021. This event, along with many others that InSight has detected, provides valuable information about the internal structure of the red planet.

InSight, which stands for Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport, landed on Mars in November 2018. Its primary mission is to study the interior of Mars and provide a better understanding of how rocky planets, like Earth and Mars, form and evolve.

The lander carries a seismometer, which is designed to detect and record seismic activity on Mars. The seismometer is so sensitive that it can detect vibrations as small as the width of a hydrogen atom. It has already detected hundreds of Marsquakes, which are similar to earthquakes on Earth.

The seismic activity on Mars is different from that on Earth. Mars does not have tectonic plates like Earth, but it does have faults that can cause quakes. InSight's seismometer has detected three different types of seismic waves on Mars: P-waves, S-waves, and surface waves. P-waves are compressional waves that move through the planet's interior, while S-waves are transverse waves that move up and down. Surface waves are the waves that are felt on the surface and are responsible for the damage caused by earthquakes.

The recent quake that was detected by InSight was the largest ever recorded on Mars. It was caused by a region called Cerberus Fossae, which is a series of fractures that are thought to have formed from the stretching and pulling of the planet's crust. This type of quake is called a "regional" quake because it is caused by a specific region on the planet.

The quake was so large that it produced vibrations that lasted for more than an hour. This allowed InSight's seismometer to record the quake in great detail, providing scientists with valuable information about the internal structure of Mars.

The data that is collected by InSight is helping scientists to understand the internal structure of Mars. By studying seismic activity on the planet, they can learn about the thickness and composition of the planet's crust, mantle, and core. They can also learn about the temperature and pressure inside the planet.

In addition to the seismometer, InSight also carries other instruments that are designed to study the interior of Mars. It has a heat flow probe that is designed to measure the heat coming from the planet's interior. It also has a radio science instrument that is designed to measure the wobble of the planet's rotation.

The recent quake that was detected by InSight is just one of many that the lander has detected. With each new quake, scientists are able to learn more about the internal structure of Mars. This information is valuable not only for understanding Mars but also for understanding other rocky planets in our solar system and beyond.

NASA InSight lander records largest quake on Mars ever, scientists say

Visit

While the recent mega-marsquake detected by NASA's InSight Mars Lander was a significant discovery, it may also mark the end of the lander's mission. The lander has been operating on Mars for over two years, and its mission was originally planned for two Earth years.

InSight has already exceeded its original mission goal of detecting at least 24 Marsquakes, and it has recorded over 500 quakes to date. The lander's seismometer has provided valuable information about the internal structure of Mars, including the thickness of the planet's crust and the composition of its mantle and core.

In addition to the seismometer, InSight also carries other instruments, including a heat flow probe and a radio science instrument. The heat flow probe is designed to measure the heat coming from the planet's interior, while the radio science instrument is designed to measure the wobble of the planet's rotation.

The heat flow probe has encountered some difficulties, however. After being deployed in February 2019, the probe encountered a rock or a layer of duricrust that prevented it from penetrating deeper into the Martian soil. Since then, the team has been trying to use the lander's robotic arm to push on the probe to help it dig deeper. While some progress has been made, the probe has not been able to reach its target depth of 5 meters.

The radio science instrument has also encountered some challenges. The instrument is designed to measure the wobble of the planet's rotation, which can provide information about the core of Mars. However, the instrument requires a stable and predictable signal from Earth, and the signal has been disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has impacted the operations of the Deep Space Network that communicates with the lander.

Given these challenges, the InSight team has announced that they are extending the mission by another two years. During this time, the team will continue to collect data from the seismometer and other instruments, and they will also explore new ways to use the robotic arm to help the heat flow probe dig deeper.

While the recent mega-marsquake may be the last big discovery from the InSight mission, the data that has been collected by the lander will provide valuable insights into the internal structure of Mars for years to come. The information will help scientists better understand how rocky planets, including Earth, form and evolve, and it may also provide clues about the potential for life on other planets.