In 2024, NASA spacecraft spotted the long-silent InSight Lander, the once-proud Martian explorer that spent years on the Red Planet before finally going quiet.
It’s a bittersweet cosmic reunion, like checking in on an old friend who’s been frozen in time.
Thanks to the powerful camera aboard NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO), we now have a fresh look at InSight’s resting place, slowly disappearing under a thin blanket of Martian dust.
Even in its stillness, the lander continues to tell us stories about Mars.
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Studying dust is surprisingly important
NASA shared the image with a playful challenge on X (formerly Twitter): “Can you spot @NASAInSight?”
The shot shows the speck of a spacecraft sitting in the flat plains of Elysium Planitia, its two circular solar panels still visible like open arms.
Over time, scientists have been watching as the lander and its surroundings are covered in dust.
While you may scoff at the idea of sending a NASA spacecraft all the way to Mars just to get it covered in dust, this data is surprisingly useful.
By studying how fast dust accumulates, researchers can estimate how old other disturbances on Mars’ surface might be.
The InSight lander’s mission officially ended in December 2022, after four hardworking years of heading into space and studying Mars’ inner life.
During that time, it recorded more than 1,300 ‘marsquakes,’ including one so powerful it was dubbed a ‘monster quake.’
Those vibrations helped scientists peek deep inside the planet, revealing that Mars isn’t the cold, geologically dead world many once assumed.
InSight also measured daily weather patterns and even helped refine our understanding of Mars’ iron-rich core.
This NASA spacecraft couldn’t operate for long in the dust
But unlike its nuclear-powered rover cousins, Curiosity and Perseverance, InSight depended on solar panels.
And unfortunately, Mars isn’t exactly known for its clean and clear air.
Dust storms gradually smothered its panels, draining its power until one day, the lander simply couldn’t call home anymore.
NASA sent its final ‘goodnight’ message, and then, silence.
Now, the InSight lander rests among other fallen Martian explorers, like the Opportunity rover, which sent a sad final message before it was destroyed on Mars.
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