A final photo of NASA's robotic lander on Mars showed the solar-powered machine coated in rust-colored Martian dust.
The InSight lander has gathered information from quakes on the planet to measure the depth and composition of Mars's crust, mantle, and core for over three years. Now, with its solar panels covered by the planet's dust, the lander will use its remaining power to move its arm that takes photos into a resting position, according to NASA.
"InSight has transformed our understanding of the interiors of rocky planets and set the stage for future missions," said Lori Glaze, director of NASA's Planetary Science Division, of InSight's diminishing power. "We can apply what we've learned about Mars's inner structure to Earth, the moon, Venus, and even rocky planets in other solar systems."
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InSight landed on Mars in November 2018, and NASA has since taken 6,572 raw images of the lander during the 1,243 sols, or Mars days, it has been on the planet. The lander's solar panels produced around 5,000 watt-hours per sol when it initially landed and is now producing roughly 500 watt-hours per sol.
InSight can stay powered a bit longer if a wind gust blows off some of the dust on the solar panels, but until then, NASA's focus is to put the machine's photo-taking arm in a resting position.
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NASA plans to send crewed trips to the planet's surface for 30 days and has released a list of 50 top objectives for the trips, including goals such as the development of systems that will allow crew members to "live, operate, and explore on the Martian surface to address key questions with respect to science and resources."
A photo taken on Mars in mid-May showed a doorlike rectangular entrance in the planet's rock face, with some suggesting it is the doorway to alien life. However, scientists suggest the "door" is actually a naturally occurring fracture that can be seen elsewhere on Mars and Earth.