Mars InSight Mission
Skip Navigation
menu

INSIGHT MISSION IMAGES

InSight's Rocket Prepares to Launch

The rocket that launched NASA’s InSight lander to Mars in 2018 is seen at Vandenberg Air Force Base, now called Vandenberg Space Force Base.

November 01, 2022

The rocket that launched NASA’s InSight lander to Mars in 2018 is seen at Vandenberg Air Force Base, now called Vandenberg Space Force Base.

Credits

NASA/JPL-Caltech/Charles Babir

ENLARGE

Related

Mars is experiencing large regional dust storms over its northern hemisphere during the past week.
More
This movie was acquired by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter’s Mars Colour Imager (MARCI) camera.
The Martian Dust Storm of June 2018
This test using an engineering model of the InSight lander here on Earth shows how the spacecraft on Mars will use its robotic arm to press on a digging device, called the "mole."
More
This test using an engineering model of the InSight lander here on Earth shows how the spacecraft on Mars will use its robotic arm to press on a digging device, called the "mole."
Robotic Arm Pushes on a Model of the 'Mole'
In this photo, a spacecraft specialist prepares NASA's InSight spacecraft for thermal vacuum testing in the flight system's "cruise" configuration for its 2016 flight to Mars.
More
In this photo, a spacecraft specialist prepares NASA's InSight spacecraft for thermal vacuum testing in the flight system's "cruise" configuration for its 2016 flight to Mars.
Preparing NASA's InSight for Space Simulation Testing
Engineers for NASA's MarCO technology demonstration display a full-scale mechanical mock-up of the small craft in development as part of NASA's next mission to Mars.
More
Two engineers hold a full-scale mechanical mock-up of a small satellite.
Model of Mars-Bound MarCO CubeSat
This long-exposure image (24 seconds) was taken by Instrument Context Camera (ICC) of NASA’s InSight Mars lander. 
More
This long-exposure image (24 seconds) was taken by Instrument Context Camera (ICC) of NASA’s InSight Mars lander.
InSight's Inner Sanctum Revealed
Troy Hudson, right, shares the science of NASA's InSight mission with kids at San Francisco's Exploratorium in April 2018. Hudson is a scientist and engineer with InSight.
More
This is an image of Troy Hudson sharing the science of NASA’s InSight mission with kids at San Francisco’s Exploratorium in April 2018. Hudson is a scientist and engineer with InSight.
Troy Sharing Mars Science
Pourquoi les plus hauts sommets du système solaire se trouvent-ils sur l'un de ses plus petits corps planétaires? Comme pour toute planète, l’aspect de la surface martienne est liée à ce qui se pas...
More
Pourquoi les plus hauts sommets du système solaire se trouvent-ils sur l'un de ses plus petits corps planétaires? Comme pour toute planète, l’aspect de la surface martienne est liée à ce qui se passe en profondeur.
Mars in a Minute: (French) Comment Mars peut elle avoir de si grandes montagnes?
An example of a "boarding pass" that members of the public can download by participating in NASA's Frequent Fliers program. With each NASA mission that flies their names, individuals can accumulate...
More
An example of a "boarding pass" that members of the public can download by participating in NASA's Frequent Fliers program. With each NASA mission that flies their names, individuals can accumulate "miles" on their boarding pass.
Frequent Fliers Boarding Pass
NASA held a media teleconference on the InSight lander and its recordings of wind vibrations on Mars. 
More
NASA held a media teleconference on the InSight lander and its recordings of wind vibrations on Mars.
NASA's InSight 'Hears' the Sound of Mars
Bruce Banerdt talks to a member of the media on Nov. 26, 2018, in advance of InSight's landing on Mars.
More
Bruce Banerdt talks to a member of the media on Nov. 26, 2018, in advance of InSight's landing on Mars.
Media Conduct Interviews for InSight's Landing
An engineer in the clean room at Lockheed Martin Space in Littleton, Colorado, affixes a dime-size chip onto the lander deck of NASA's InSight spacecraft
More
An engineer in the clean room at Lockheed Martin Space in Littleton, Colorado, affixes a dime-size chip onto the lander deck of NASA's InSight spacecraft.
Second Names Chip is Placed on InSight
This set of images shows NASA's InSight lander deploying its first instrument onto the surface of Mars, completing a major mission milestone. 
More
This set of images shows NASA's InSight lander deploying its first instrument onto the surface of Mars, completing a major mission milestone.
Putting SEIS on the Ground
This illustration shows a simulated view of NASA's InSight lander kicking up dust as it lands on the Martian surface.
More
This illustration shows a simulated view of NASA's InSight lander kicking up dust as it lands on the Martian surface.
InSight Touching Down on Mars (Illustration)
Engineers at Lockheed Martin Space, Denver, Colorado, test the robotic arm on NASA's InSight lander several months before launch.
More
Engineers at Lockheed Martin Space, Denver, Colorado, test the robotic arm on NASA's InSight lander several months before launch.
Pre-Launch Testing of InSight's Robotic Arm
The beige clouds seen in this global map of Mars are a continent-size dust storm captured on Sept. 29, 2022, by the Mars Climate Imager camera aboard NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. NASA’s Pers...
More
The beige clouds seen in this global map of Mars are a continent-size dust storm captured on Sept. 29, 2022, by the Mars Climate Imager camera aboard NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.
Mars Dust Storm in Relation to InSight, Curiosity and Perseverance
Earth is a living, dynamic world thanks to volcanoes and the planetary heat that fuels them. The InSight mission wants to see if Mars also has a heartbeat deep inside its cold exterior.
More
Earth is a living, dynamic world thanks to volcanoes and the planetary heat that fuels them. The InSight mission wants to see if Mars also has a heartbeat deep inside its cold exterior.
A Matter of Life and Death
NASA's InSight spacecraft arrived at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, to begin final preparations for launch.
More
NASA's InSight spacecraft arrived at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, to begin final preparations for launch. InSight will be the first mission to look deep beneath the Martian surface, studying the planet's interior by listening for marsquakes and measuring its heat output. It will be the first planetary spacecraft to launch from this west coast launch facility. The launch period for InSight opens May 5, 2018 and continues through June 8, 2018.
Mars InSight Arrives at Vandenberg Air Force Base
An artist's rendering of the twin Mars Cube One (MarCO) spacecraft as they fly through deep space.
More
An artist's rendering of the twin Mars Cube One (MarCO) spacecraft as they fly through deep space.
MarCOs Cruise in Deep Space
NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter captured this image of a meteoroid impact that was later associated with a seismic event detected by the agency’s InSight lander using its seismometer. This crate...
More
NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter captured this image of a meteoroid impact that was later associated with a seismic event detected by the agency’s InSight lander using its seismometer. This crater was formed on May 27, 2020.
InSight-Detected Impact in May 2020
When NASA's InSight lands on Mars, it will be the first mission on another planet to use a robotic arm to grasp instruments and place them on the surface.  
More
When NASA's InSight lands on Mars, it will be the first mission on another planet to use a robotic arm to grasp instruments and place them on the surface.
Crazy Engineering: Space Claw
The science deck of NASA's InSight lander is being turned over in this April 29, 2015, photo from InSight assembly and testing operations inside a clean room at Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Denver.
More
The science deck of NASA's InSight lander is being turned over in this April 29, 2015, photo from InSight assembly and testing operations inside a clean room at Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Denver.
Turning the InSight Lander's Science Deck
Second dime-size microchip carrying 1.6 million names gets processed for installation onto the InSight lander.  
More
Second dime-size microchip carrying 1.6 million names gets processed for installation onto the InSight lander.
Second Microchip Gets Ready for Launch
Vice President Mike Pence joined NASA Associate Administrator for the Science Mission Directorate, Thomas Zurbuchen for a close-up view of NASA's Mars InSight spacecraft during a visit to Lockheed ...
More
Vice President Mike Pence joined NASA Associate Administrator for the Science Mission Directorate, Thomas Zurbuchen for a close-up view of NASA's Mars InSight spacecraft during a visit to Lockheed Martin's facility in Littleton, Colorado, on Thursday, October 26.
Vice President Sees Mars InSight Spacecraft in Colorado
The payload fairing of the Atlas V rocket that would launch NASA's InSight lander to Mars is lifted up so that it can be mated to the top of the rocket.
More
The payload fairing of the Atlas V rocket that would launch NASA's InSight lander to Mars is lifted up so that it can be mated to the top of the rocket.
InSight Payload Fairing Lift and Mate
NASA’s InSight lander used a scoop on its robotic arm to begin trickling soil over the cable connecting its seismometer to the spacecraft on March 14, 2021, the 816th Martian day, or sol of the mis...
More
InSight lander used a scoop on its robotic arm to begin trickling soil over the cable connecting its seismometer to the spacecraft
InSight Starts Burying Seismometer's Cable

You Might Also Like

The agency is asking the NASA community to work together to develop a revised plan that leverages innovation and proven technology.
More
NASA Sets Path to Return Mars Samples, Seeks Innovative Designs
NASA Sets Path to Return Mars Samples, Seeks Innovative Designs
NASA has proven powered, controlled flight is possible on other worlds, just as the Wright brothers proved it was possible on Earth.
More
After Three Years on Mars, NASA's Ingenuity Helicopter Mission Ends
After Three Years on Mars, NASA's Ingenuity Helicopter Mission Ends
The agency established the board in May 2023 to evaluate the technical, cost, and schedule plans prior to confirmation of the mission’s design.
More
NASA Releases Independent Review's Mars Sample Return Report
NASA Releases Independent Review's Mars Sample Return Report
A pair of quakes in 2021 sent seismic waves deep into the Red Planet’s core, giving scientists the best data yet on its size and composition.
More
NASA InSight Study Provides Clearest Look Ever at Martian Core
NASA InSight Study Provides Clearest Look Ever at Martian Core
Ten sample tubes, capturing an amazing variety of Martian geology, have been deposited on Mars’ surface so they could be studied on Earth in the future.
More
NASA's Perseverance Rover Completes Mars Sample Depot
NASA's Perseverance Rover Completes Mars Sample Depot
Filled with rock, the sample tube will be one of 10 forming a depot of tubes that could be considered for a journey to Earth by the Mars Sample Return campaign.
More
NASA's Perseverance Rover Deposits First Sample on Mars Surface
NASA's Perseverance Rover Deposits First Sample on Mars Surface