NASA successfully launched its InSight lander Saturday, setting off its mission to Mars.
The InSight lander – short for Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport – is set to arrive on Mars in November 2018. It was launched attached to the Atlas V rocket from the Space Launch Complex 3 at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California before it later detached to make its way over to the Red Planet.
LIFTOFF! Humanity’s next mission to Mars has left the pad! @NASAInSight heads into space for a ~6 month journey to Mars where it will take the planet’s vital signs and help us understand how rocky planets formed. Watch: https://t.co/SA1B0Dglms pic.twitter.com/wBqFc47L5p
— NASA (@NASA) May 5, 2018
The successful launch also marks NASA’s first interplanetary mission to take off from the West Coast, according to the Associated Press. InSight will explore more of Mars than has ever been studied before. InSight will dig close to 16 feet into the surface of Mars to study the planet’s temperature. It will also take the first measurements of marsquakes. The Atlas V rocket also brought on two mini satellites that will follow the InSight on its mission.
NASA's InSight lander just hitched a ride to Mars on an Atlas V rocket; the first interplanetary mission to leave from California. This is a long-exposure shot of the rocket seen from about 85 miles away from the launch site #NASA #InSight #Mars #ULA #AtlasV pic.twitter.com/nARSRDo1D2
— Aaron Collier (@aaronncollier) May 5, 2018
Tower rollback is complete and I’m ready to go to #Mars. Check out my ride. It's lit! Don’t forget to set your clocks and tune in to @NASA TV starting at 3:30 a.m. PT tomorrow, May 5. https://t.co/DZ8GsDTfGc pic.twitter.com/tSg65rWUgj
— NASA InSight (@NASAInSight) May 5, 2018
https://twitter.com/JimBridenstine/status/992722086794756096
If the InSight does make it to Mars, it will be the first spacecraft landed on the planet since the Mars rover the Curiosity back in 2012.