On its eighth day on the Red Planet, NASA’s Mars InSight, preparing to start work, flexes its robotic arm and takes a picture of itself.
This image, originally captured last week, shows the arm above a copper-coloured hexagonal structure – a seismometer, shortly to be deployed – the instrument’s conical protective cover and, to the right, the black cylindrical Heat Flow and Physical Properties Probe (HP3).
And beyond the lander itself, the vast rocky expanse of the Elysium Planitia.
Originally published by Cosmos as Mars, at a stretch
Cosmos
Curated content from the editorial staff at Cosmos Magazine.
Read science facts, not fiction...
There’s never been a more important time to explain the facts, cherish evidence-based knowledge and to showcase the latest scientific, technological and engineering breakthroughs. Cosmos is published by The Royal Institution of Australia, a charity dedicated to connecting people with the world of science. Financial contributions, however big or small, help us provide access to trusted science information at a time when the world needs it most. Please support us by making a donation or purchasing a subscription today.
