A big treat to all the space lovers- NASA’s human ‘Journey to Mars’ initiative and NASA’s next robotic mission to Mars – the InSight lander is about to get launch. you can now ‘Send Your Name to Mars’ to NASA on a silicon microchip aboard the InSight probe slated for blastoff on March 4, 2016. As a result the names will be included on a dime-sized microchip that will travel on a variety of spacecraft voyaging to destinations beyond low-Earth orbit, including Mars.
Till now, over 67,000 Mars enthusiasts have already signed up! last date to sign up is Sept. 8, 2015.
What is Insight Lander?
- InSight is a robotic Mars lander planned for launch in March 2016.
- The mission’s objective is to place a stationary lander equipped with a seismometer and heat transfer probe on the surface of Mars to study its early geological evolution.
- InSight was initially known as GEMS (Geophysical Monitoring Station).
- name was changed in early 2012.
- On 27 May 2015, NASA announced that testing of the lander began.
- Landing date: September 20, 2016
NASA
- Full Form: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
- It is the United States government agency responsible for the civilian space program as well as aeronautics and aerospace research.
- Established: In 1958
- Establish by: President Dwight D. Eisenhower