What is NASA’s next big step in recording and analyzing outer space? Their InSight Spacecraft was just shipped to the Vandenberg Air Force Base from Lockheed Martin Space and has already started the preparation program to be launched in May this year. The launch period is scheduled to start on the 7th of May and end on the 18th of June.
What are scientists trying to find by sending this spacecraft in space?
NASA’s spacecraft is going to set a couple of records by being the first one to be launched to Mars and the first one to be launched from the West Coast. Its main purpose is to analyze what is beneath Mars’ surface so that scientists can work with this data for further projects.
The spacecraft’s preparation process
Scientists still have a lot to do until they can safely launch this craft. The first step is going to be testing the functions of it to make sure that nothing was damaged on the road to Vandenberg. After that they are going to have to update the flight software and undergo tests to make sure that it performs to optimal values.
The last steps are going to be stocking the InSight Spacecraft with fuel and then performing even more tests in order to determine its center of mass. Last but not least, when it is going to be launched it will have to be brought into space by the United Launch Alliance Atlas V-401, a type of rocket used by the Vandenberg Air Force Base.
More details about what the spacecraft is going to do
As we said before, NASA is interested in mapping out what lies beneath the surface of Mars. Scientists want to know the interior composition of Mars and they are going to analyze the seismic waves created by quakes that naturally happen on the planet. This would aid them in knowing how the planet was formed which would also give them a glimpse into how our planet came to be as well.
