NASA's InSight rover sets new record for generating electricity using Solar power

InSight generated more electrical power in one day than any other any previous Mars vehicle has.

Tech2 News Staff|Dec 03, 2018, 13:38:50 IST

NASA's successful landing of the InSight probe on Mars' surface is already setting new records. As per a report InSight, after touching down on Mars, opened its solar wings and generated more electrical power in one day than any other any previous Mars vehicle has.[caption id="attachment_5513081" align="alignnone" width="1280"]

A 5D image of InSight on Mars. Image: NASA[/caption]"It is great to get our first 'off-world record' on our very first full day on Mars," said InSight project manager at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory Tom Hoffman said in a statement as per Space.com. He also added, "The 4,588 watt-hours we produced during Sol 1 means we currently have more than enough juice to perform these tasks and move forward with our science mission."In comparison, NASA's Curiosity and Phoenix landers had generated a 2,806 watt-hours and 1,800 watt-hours respectively.Apart from that, it was found out that the InSight lander had landed on Mars at a slight angle. This has apparently posed a problem for NASA engineers only because the spacecraft is designed to carry out experiments from its stationary spot on the Elysium Planitia. They are hopeful that the two main instruments on InSight – its quake sensor, and the self-hammering mole to measure heat escaping from Mars' surface – work as planned.

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