APOD: 2022 November 4 - InSight's Final Selfie

Good Red Friday morning, Rallypoint, and welcome to the November 4th edition of Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD): "Insight's Final Selfie." The Mars Insight lander touched down in the Elysium Planitia region of Mars in November 2018, and began to study the seismic, gravitational, and thermal properties of the Red Planet. Since landing, dust has gradually covered the two solar panels (left and right) that generate power for the spacecraft. As a result, power levels have dwindled and led to the realization that Insight's mission may be reaching its completion.

When InSight misses two consecutive communication sessions with the spacecraft orbiting Mars, the mission will be declared complete. After that, NASA’s Deep Space Network will listen for a time, just in case. While a mission-saving event – a strong gust of wind that cleans the panels off – isn’t out of the question, it is considered unlikely. In the meantime, as long as InSight remains in contact, the team will continue gathering seismic data...as long as the wind and dust permit.