NASA is temporarily limiting the operation of InSight’s science instruments.
There’s a healthy layer of reddish dust coating the array.
Mars is a cold and dusty place!
The solar arrays are now down to producing 27% of their full capacity when clean.
Some of that power needs to go to InSight’s heaters to protect the lander during the Martian winter.
The available power will be rationed between the heaters and various science instruments.
“Currently, power levels look strong enough to take the lander through the winter,” said NASA.
“But solar power generation on Mars is always a little uncertain.”
InSight recently received a mission extensionthrough December 2022 that will allow it to continue gathering seismic and weather data.
Now it just needs to weather the winter.
