Why was it necessary to program InSight with an ability to land in dust storms?











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If the entire event of EDL(Entry- Descent - Landing) is going to take only 7 minutes and if the command to begin could be signalled based on ground weather condition, why to take the extra effort to program abilities to land in dust storms?



Why not make use of dynamic weather monitoring and initiate entry when the conditions are perfect?










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    up vote
    6
    down vote

    favorite












    If the entire event of EDL(Entry- Descent - Landing) is going to take only 7 minutes and if the command to begin could be signalled based on ground weather condition, why to take the extra effort to program abilities to land in dust storms?



    Why not make use of dynamic weather monitoring and initiate entry when the conditions are perfect?










    share|improve this question
























      up vote
      6
      down vote

      favorite









      up vote
      6
      down vote

      favorite











      If the entire event of EDL(Entry- Descent - Landing) is going to take only 7 minutes and if the command to begin could be signalled based on ground weather condition, why to take the extra effort to program abilities to land in dust storms?



      Why not make use of dynamic weather monitoring and initiate entry when the conditions are perfect?










      share|improve this question













      If the entire event of EDL(Entry- Descent - Landing) is going to take only 7 minutes and if the command to begin could be signalled based on ground weather condition, why to take the extra effort to program abilities to land in dust storms?



      Why not make use of dynamic weather monitoring and initiate entry when the conditions are perfect?







      mars nasa landing insight entry-descent-landing






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      asked 11 hours ago









      karthikeyan

      1,044518




      1,044518






















          3 Answers
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          down vote



          accepted










          Because it's at the end of a 6 month cruise and there's no turning back.



          InSight will not enter closed orbit around Mars - its trajectory is hyperbolic so either it misses Mars entirely or it enters the atmosphere.



          There were six planned course corrections during the cruise phase, the final one of which - TCM 6 - occurred on the day of the landing. This was to precisely target the landing site and would have made very little difference to the entry time - certainly not enough to wait out a dust storm.






          share|improve this answer






























            up vote
            6
            down vote













            InSight doesn't enter Martian orbit before EDL; it plows straight into Mars' atmosphere from interplanetary space. Thus, the time of landing is pretty much un-alterable after its final midcourse correction maneuvers; it cannot wait for perfect weather conditions to land.






            share|improve this answer




























              up vote
              2
              down vote













              To deal with dust storms, two of the changes between Phoenix and InSight are mechanical in nature:





              • InSight uses a thicker heat shield, partly to handle the possibility of being sandblasted by a dust storm.


              • InSight’s parachute suspension lines use stronger material.



              https://mars.nasa.gov/insight/timeline/landing/entry-descent-landing/




              The landing site needs to be both flat and level, and reconnaissance helped to choose the optimal site. Nonetheless, there still could be boulders or small hills that should be avoided. Therefore, there are cameras and radar that help the computer decide the best place for landing, and thrust appropriately. These cameras and radar can be blinded by dust storms.






              share|improve this answer





















              • Are the suspension lines stronger than Phoenix's because of possible dust storms, or because Insight is a little heavier, and its parachute was deployed at mach 1.8 instead of mach 1.7?
                – Wayne Conrad
                8 hours ago






              • 1




                @WayneConrad: All 3 reasons contributed to the design change.
                – Dr Sheldon
                8 hours ago






              • 2




                +1 for the how, but it actually misses the question of why.
                – DarkDust
                8 hours ago











              Your Answer





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              3 Answers
              3






              active

              oldest

              votes








              3 Answers
              3






              active

              oldest

              votes









              active

              oldest

              votes






              active

              oldest

              votes








              up vote
              26
              down vote



              accepted










              Because it's at the end of a 6 month cruise and there's no turning back.



              InSight will not enter closed orbit around Mars - its trajectory is hyperbolic so either it misses Mars entirely or it enters the atmosphere.



              There were six planned course corrections during the cruise phase, the final one of which - TCM 6 - occurred on the day of the landing. This was to precisely target the landing site and would have made very little difference to the entry time - certainly not enough to wait out a dust storm.






              share|improve this answer



























                up vote
                26
                down vote



                accepted










                Because it's at the end of a 6 month cruise and there's no turning back.



                InSight will not enter closed orbit around Mars - its trajectory is hyperbolic so either it misses Mars entirely or it enters the atmosphere.



                There were six planned course corrections during the cruise phase, the final one of which - TCM 6 - occurred on the day of the landing. This was to precisely target the landing site and would have made very little difference to the entry time - certainly not enough to wait out a dust storm.






                share|improve this answer

























                  up vote
                  26
                  down vote



                  accepted







                  up vote
                  26
                  down vote



                  accepted






                  Because it's at the end of a 6 month cruise and there's no turning back.



                  InSight will not enter closed orbit around Mars - its trajectory is hyperbolic so either it misses Mars entirely or it enters the atmosphere.



                  There were six planned course corrections during the cruise phase, the final one of which - TCM 6 - occurred on the day of the landing. This was to precisely target the landing site and would have made very little difference to the entry time - certainly not enough to wait out a dust storm.






                  share|improve this answer














                  Because it's at the end of a 6 month cruise and there's no turning back.



                  InSight will not enter closed orbit around Mars - its trajectory is hyperbolic so either it misses Mars entirely or it enters the atmosphere.



                  There were six planned course corrections during the cruise phase, the final one of which - TCM 6 - occurred on the day of the landing. This was to precisely target the landing site and would have made very little difference to the entry time - certainly not enough to wait out a dust storm.







                  share|improve this answer














                  share|improve this answer



                  share|improve this answer








                  edited 6 hours ago

























                  answered 11 hours ago









                  Jack

                  6,78013051




                  6,78013051






















                      up vote
                      6
                      down vote













                      InSight doesn't enter Martian orbit before EDL; it plows straight into Mars' atmosphere from interplanetary space. Thus, the time of landing is pretty much un-alterable after its final midcourse correction maneuvers; it cannot wait for perfect weather conditions to land.






                      share|improve this answer

























                        up vote
                        6
                        down vote













                        InSight doesn't enter Martian orbit before EDL; it plows straight into Mars' atmosphere from interplanetary space. Thus, the time of landing is pretty much un-alterable after its final midcourse correction maneuvers; it cannot wait for perfect weather conditions to land.






                        share|improve this answer























                          up vote
                          6
                          down vote










                          up vote
                          6
                          down vote









                          InSight doesn't enter Martian orbit before EDL; it plows straight into Mars' atmosphere from interplanetary space. Thus, the time of landing is pretty much un-alterable after its final midcourse correction maneuvers; it cannot wait for perfect weather conditions to land.






                          share|improve this answer












                          InSight doesn't enter Martian orbit before EDL; it plows straight into Mars' atmosphere from interplanetary space. Thus, the time of landing is pretty much un-alterable after its final midcourse correction maneuvers; it cannot wait for perfect weather conditions to land.







                          share|improve this answer












                          share|improve this answer



                          share|improve this answer










                          answered 11 hours ago









                          Russell Borogove

                          77.5k2250336




                          77.5k2250336






















                              up vote
                              2
                              down vote













                              To deal with dust storms, two of the changes between Phoenix and InSight are mechanical in nature:





                              • InSight uses a thicker heat shield, partly to handle the possibility of being sandblasted by a dust storm.


                              • InSight’s parachute suspension lines use stronger material.



                              https://mars.nasa.gov/insight/timeline/landing/entry-descent-landing/




                              The landing site needs to be both flat and level, and reconnaissance helped to choose the optimal site. Nonetheless, there still could be boulders or small hills that should be avoided. Therefore, there are cameras and radar that help the computer decide the best place for landing, and thrust appropriately. These cameras and radar can be blinded by dust storms.






                              share|improve this answer





















                              • Are the suspension lines stronger than Phoenix's because of possible dust storms, or because Insight is a little heavier, and its parachute was deployed at mach 1.8 instead of mach 1.7?
                                – Wayne Conrad
                                8 hours ago






                              • 1




                                @WayneConrad: All 3 reasons contributed to the design change.
                                – Dr Sheldon
                                8 hours ago






                              • 2




                                +1 for the how, but it actually misses the question of why.
                                – DarkDust
                                8 hours ago















                              up vote
                              2
                              down vote













                              To deal with dust storms, two of the changes between Phoenix and InSight are mechanical in nature:





                              • InSight uses a thicker heat shield, partly to handle the possibility of being sandblasted by a dust storm.


                              • InSight’s parachute suspension lines use stronger material.



                              https://mars.nasa.gov/insight/timeline/landing/entry-descent-landing/




                              The landing site needs to be both flat and level, and reconnaissance helped to choose the optimal site. Nonetheless, there still could be boulders or small hills that should be avoided. Therefore, there are cameras and radar that help the computer decide the best place for landing, and thrust appropriately. These cameras and radar can be blinded by dust storms.






                              share|improve this answer





















                              • Are the suspension lines stronger than Phoenix's because of possible dust storms, or because Insight is a little heavier, and its parachute was deployed at mach 1.8 instead of mach 1.7?
                                – Wayne Conrad
                                8 hours ago






                              • 1




                                @WayneConrad: All 3 reasons contributed to the design change.
                                – Dr Sheldon
                                8 hours ago






                              • 2




                                +1 for the how, but it actually misses the question of why.
                                – DarkDust
                                8 hours ago













                              up vote
                              2
                              down vote










                              up vote
                              2
                              down vote









                              To deal with dust storms, two of the changes between Phoenix and InSight are mechanical in nature:





                              • InSight uses a thicker heat shield, partly to handle the possibility of being sandblasted by a dust storm.


                              • InSight’s parachute suspension lines use stronger material.



                              https://mars.nasa.gov/insight/timeline/landing/entry-descent-landing/




                              The landing site needs to be both flat and level, and reconnaissance helped to choose the optimal site. Nonetheless, there still could be boulders or small hills that should be avoided. Therefore, there are cameras and radar that help the computer decide the best place for landing, and thrust appropriately. These cameras and radar can be blinded by dust storms.






                              share|improve this answer












                              To deal with dust storms, two of the changes between Phoenix and InSight are mechanical in nature:





                              • InSight uses a thicker heat shield, partly to handle the possibility of being sandblasted by a dust storm.


                              • InSight’s parachute suspension lines use stronger material.



                              https://mars.nasa.gov/insight/timeline/landing/entry-descent-landing/




                              The landing site needs to be both flat and level, and reconnaissance helped to choose the optimal site. Nonetheless, there still could be boulders or small hills that should be avoided. Therefore, there are cameras and radar that help the computer decide the best place for landing, and thrust appropriately. These cameras and radar can be blinded by dust storms.







                              share|improve this answer












                              share|improve this answer



                              share|improve this answer










                              answered 11 hours ago









                              Dr Sheldon

                              3,1031339




                              3,1031339












                              • Are the suspension lines stronger than Phoenix's because of possible dust storms, or because Insight is a little heavier, and its parachute was deployed at mach 1.8 instead of mach 1.7?
                                – Wayne Conrad
                                8 hours ago






                              • 1




                                @WayneConrad: All 3 reasons contributed to the design change.
                                – Dr Sheldon
                                8 hours ago






                              • 2




                                +1 for the how, but it actually misses the question of why.
                                – DarkDust
                                8 hours ago


















                              • Are the suspension lines stronger than Phoenix's because of possible dust storms, or because Insight is a little heavier, and its parachute was deployed at mach 1.8 instead of mach 1.7?
                                – Wayne Conrad
                                8 hours ago






                              • 1




                                @WayneConrad: All 3 reasons contributed to the design change.
                                – Dr Sheldon
                                8 hours ago






                              • 2




                                +1 for the how, but it actually misses the question of why.
                                – DarkDust
                                8 hours ago
















                              Are the suspension lines stronger than Phoenix's because of possible dust storms, or because Insight is a little heavier, and its parachute was deployed at mach 1.8 instead of mach 1.7?
                              – Wayne Conrad
                              8 hours ago




                              Are the suspension lines stronger than Phoenix's because of possible dust storms, or because Insight is a little heavier, and its parachute was deployed at mach 1.8 instead of mach 1.7?
                              – Wayne Conrad
                              8 hours ago




                              1




                              1




                              @WayneConrad: All 3 reasons contributed to the design change.
                              – Dr Sheldon
                              8 hours ago




                              @WayneConrad: All 3 reasons contributed to the design change.
                              – Dr Sheldon
                              8 hours ago




                              2




                              2




                              +1 for the how, but it actually misses the question of why.
                              – DarkDust
                              8 hours ago




                              +1 for the how, but it actually misses the question of why.
                              – DarkDust
                              8 hours ago


















                               

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