For the first time, humans can hear the sound of wind on Mars thanks to a new NASA spacecraft that touched down on the Red Planet ten days ago.
NASA’s new tool – the Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport – aka ‘InSight’ touched down on Mars on November 26.
On December 1, InSight sensors captured a haunting low rumble caused by vibrations from the wind, estimated to be blowing between 10 to 15 mph (16 to 24 kph). The winds were consistent with the direction of dust devil streaks in the landing area, which were observed from orbit, NASA reports.
What’s even more exciting about InSight’s fascinating discovery is that the NASA team were not even planning on capturing the previously unheard wind.
“Capturing this audio was an unplanned treat,” said InSight principal investigator, Bruce Banerdt. “But one of the things our mission is dedicated to is measuring motion on Mars, and naturally that includes motion caused by sound waves.”
The wind vibrations were detected by two sensitive sensors on the InSight spacecraft: an air pressure sensor inside the lander and a seismometer sitting on the lander’s deck.
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Mars InSight mission touches down on Red Planet – here’s what you need to know
InSight will act as a giant ear on Mars that will measure any sound or pressure fluctuations of the wind, earthquakes, tectonic movement or volcanism. However NASA promise an even clearer sound of the Red Planet is coming with the Mars 2020 rover that will have two microphones on board.
The rover will, for the first time, record the sound of its own landing. It will also record the sound of the instrument’s laser as it zaps different materials, helping to identify the material based on the sound it makes.
