NASA’s InSight rover records strongest earthquake on Mars

NASA’s InSight instrument has managed to detect three of the most severe Mars earthquakes ever to occur.

NASA‘s Marssent to InSight The spacecraft successfully landed on the red planet towards the end of 2018.

MarsThe spacecraft, which successfully lowered its seismometer to the surface to detect seismic activities in , and then started drilling for drilling, recorded two earthquakes of 4.2 and 4.1 magnitude on Mars on August 25.

ANOTHER 90-MINUTE EARTHQUAKE

NASA officials said the spacecraft detected another 4.2-magnitude earthquake on September 18 that lasted about 90 minutes.

The previous record recorded by InSight in 2019 was 3.7 magnitude and about five times weaker than the last earthquake.

The researchers said that the seismographs aboard InSight have recorded hundreds of Martian earthquakes to date, and the vehicle plays an important role in understanding underground activities on Mars.

Thanks to the analysis of recent tremors, the InSight team was able to make a detailed map of the Martian core. The spacecraft’s findings showed that Mars had an unexpectedly large core and thin crust.

CURRENTLY NOT WORKING AT FULL CAPACITY

NASA’s spacecraft on Mars is unable to collect energy because its solar panels are covered with dust. InSight, which was put into emergency mode in April, can only obtain data with the help of sensors.

Bruce Banerdt, principal investigator of the InSight mission, said that the spacecraft, which can produce approximately 5,000 watts of energy per hour, is currently able to benefit from 700 watts of energy per hour.

Stating that 80 percent of the spacecraft is covered with dust, Banerdt said, “Things may come to a standstill in the first quarter of 2022.” said.