One of the most prominent human interests in Mars is without a doubt the potential for finding, with more concrete proof, the origins of our own planet. Given that Mars shares a reasonable proximity to the sun and is another rock/volcanic based planet, it's similarities to our own creates innumerable opportunities for the discovery of this fundamental information. While many missions concerning Mars have gathered invaluable data, this data gathered from a combination of orbiting satellites and rovers landing on the surface, has solely been focused on gathering surface data. The InSight Discovery Program is one that is unprecedented in type and innovation, as it posits the opportunity to truly dig into Mars' core, delving into its earliest evolution and the very essence of the planet itself.
What makes Mars a further fascination with regards to its potential for uncovering truths about the nature and of our own planet, is the fact that its lack of tectonic plates allows for a more stable and complete record of its own history. Moreover, Mars is an enigma in this sense as it is both large enough to have undergone early internal heating and differentiation and small enough to have potentially retained the signature of these processes over 4 billion years.
A thoroughly interesting aspect of the InSight mission is one which evokes the sheer implications of the potential discoveries that will be made upon the mission's landing in September of 2016. Upon further investigation of the way in which the Insight lander will conduct these experiments, I found that the design and construction of the lander implies a rather cross-cultural and international effort. One of the key tools used by this rover will be a seismometer which was contributed by the French space agency, Centre Nationale D'études Spaciales or CNES. This fundamental tool will be used to measure microscopic ground motions. Further, the German Aerospace Center (DLR) is responsible for the contribution of the Heat-flow Probe, allowing the lander to drill 3-5 meters deep to measure heat emittance from Mars' core. To me this evokes the quasi-political implications of these discoveries and how they will affect the way in which each country's contribution to space discovery is a reflection of their advancements in science and rationality.
To quote JPL's website "The science payload is comprised of two instruments: the Seismic Experiment for Interior Structure (SEIS), provided by the French Space Agency (CNES), with the participation of the Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris (IPGP), the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH), the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research (MPS), Imperial College and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL); and the Heat Flow and Physical Properties Package (HP3), provided by the German Space Agency (DLR). In addition, the Rotation and Interior Structure Experiment (RISE), led by JPL, will use the spacecraft communication system to provide precise measurements of planetary rotation". It is astounding to see the level of collectiveness in this endeavor as perhaps the best testament to the importance of the discoveries that will occur in September of 2016.
Another interesting fact about the InSight mission is NASA's outreach to allow people to send their names to Mars. Similarly to the hi Juno experiment, this facet of the InSight mission is one that draws intrigue with regards to human nature and our innate desire to make our mark upon great discoveries. Perhaps more interesting is the mere fact that our reconnaissance has proven that there is no life on Mars and that we still possess the desire to make ourselves known to the planet in some way or other.
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