NASA lands "Insight" space probe on Mars
- 5 years ago
Scientists and engineers at NASA are celebrating after its Insight spacecraft successfully landed on Mars on Monday.
The touchdown came after a dramatic seven-minute plunge to the surface of the Red Planet.
It marked the end to a journey that covered 480 million kilometers for more than six months.
It is also NASA's first attempt to land on Mars in six years, with only four out of 10 previous attempts being successful.
Insight will now embark on a two-year mission that aims to shine new light on how the Red Planet was formed by looking deep beneath the surface.
The probe will study Mars' core, crust and mantle and scientists can use that data to compare with the Earth's interior.
The touchdown came after a dramatic seven-minute plunge to the surface of the Red Planet.
It marked the end to a journey that covered 480 million kilometers for more than six months.
It is also NASA's first attempt to land on Mars in six years, with only four out of 10 previous attempts being successful.
Insight will now embark on a two-year mission that aims to shine new light on how the Red Planet was formed by looking deep beneath the surface.
The probe will study Mars' core, crust and mantle and scientists can use that data to compare with the Earth's interior.