Four Days Later, A Checkup on NASA's InSight on Mars

news image
Special Stories
29 Nov 2018 7:44 PM
It's time to get a checkup on InSight, the latest spacecraft to successfully land on Mars. In case you missed it, this was how Monday afternoon was for NASA scientists... https://twitter.com/NASAInSight/status/1067171099287347208 A lot has happened since then. "A lot" in space time is much different from 'a lot' in our Earth time. We can cram a lot into a day here on Earth. However tasks must be taken slowly and surely beyond our atmosphere to ensure that the mission is successful. DAY 1 - MONDAY Landing day for InSight. https://twitter.com/JimBridenstine/status/1067172157732659200 Some of the first images from InSight on Mars looked like this: https://twitter.com/NASAInSight/status/1067244283688669184 InSight then deployed its solar panels (acting as its energy and electricity) to power it for its mission. https://twitter.com/NASAInSight/status/1067258215501447168 DAY 2 - TUESDAY InSight went through status checkups, routine maintenance, and enjoyed the sun rays to help charge up some battery life. https://twitter.com/NASAInSight/status/1067532255042592768 DAY 3 - WEDNESDAY More 'arms' were deployed off of InSight. https://twitter.com/NASAInSight/status/1068015524553023488 DAY 4 - THURSDAY Selfie time. Well perhaps not a selfie to instantly post to Instagram, but rather send back to Earth. The near-term goal will be to find a good spot to begin InSight's mission(s). Here's part of the summary from NASA:

"In the coming days, the mission team will unstow InSight's robotic arm and use the attached camera to snap photos of the ground so that engineers can decide where to place the spacecraft's scientific instruments. It will take two to three months before those instruments are fully deployed and sending back data.

In the meantime, InSight will use its weather sensors and magnetometer to take readings from its landing site at Elysium Planitia — its new home on Mars."

What's next? You can check out all of the "InSight" on this program and mission via this link below: https://mars.nasa.gov/insight/ For WeatherNation, Meteorologist Steve Glazier
All Weather News
More
Active Week Ahead For The Front Range

Active Week Ahead For The Front Range

Coming off the heels of very large hail acros

24 Jun 2026 10:35 PM
Weekend System To Shake up Pattern Across the Country

Weekend System To Shake up Pattern Across the Country

A significant early-summer trough is expected

24 Jun 2026 9:20 PM
Flood Threat Persists This Week

Flood Threat Persists This Week

OKLAHOMA - A flash flood emergency was issued

24 Jun 2026 6:55 PM
Another Day of Heat For the West Before Changes

Another Day of Heat For the West Before Changes

This week, an upper-level ridge has taken ove

24 Jun 2026 6:30 PM
I-95 Corridor Under Severe Risk Today

I-95 Corridor Under Severe Risk Today

Devastating storms ripped through the heartla

23 Jun 2026 10:00 PM
Summer Solstice Kicks Off Father's Day Sunday

Summer Solstice Kicks Off Father's Day Sunday

Fathers across the country will have to share

21 Jun 2026 5:20 PM
Flood Risk Continues This Weekend for the Gulf Coast States

Flood Risk Continues This Weekend for the Gulf Coast States

Numerous flash flood warnings were issued as

21 Jun 2026 1:15 PM