On December 18, 2024, the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter captured poignant images of the dormant InSight lander, showcasing the turbulent dust storms of the Red Planet. Although InSight officially retired in December 2022, engineers held out hope for its revival, believing that wind might clear its solar panels. However, as 2024 concludes, NASA plans to cease attempts to communicate with the lander.
Ingrid Daubar, a planetary scientist at Brown University, remarked on the bittersweet nature of this farewell, acknowledging the mission's significant scientific contributions. InSight studied over 1,000 marsquakes and provided valuable insights into Mars' geology, including evidence of its large liquid core.
Dust devils, which resemble those on Earth, play a crucial role in Martian weather. These whirlwinds can both accumulate and remove dust, impacting solar energy collection. InSight's dust-covered panels were expected to hinder its power generation, and scientists continue to monitor dust patterns, which could aid in dating impact craters and inform future Mars missions.
Despite its silence, InSight remains a valuable source of information about Mars, contributing to our understanding of the planet even in its absence.