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The US Space Agency's (NASA) InSight probe recorded the first earthquake on Mars.
This is the first time that man detects a seismic signal on the surface of a body other than the Earth and its Luna.
The first evidence that earthquakes also occur on Mars was captured by the ship's sensors on April 6.
Scientists responsible for the discovery ensure that the source of this phenomenon could be the movement in crack inside the planet or tremor caused by the impact of a meteorite.
InSight, the first probe to explore the "heart" of Mars, landed on the red planet last November after a complex descent. .
Mission combines NASA's efforts with several European partners? is a pioneer in placing seismographs on Martian soil to badyze the "entrails" of the planet.
This discovery could help to build a clearer picture of Mars' inner structure, from the Earth's crust to the mantle and the core.
] The results could be compared to the characteristics of the Earth, for the purpose of to know more about about the different ways in which these two planets evolved . 19659013] Magnitude between 1 and 2
Scientists in charge of the mission ensure that the signals recorded by the probe are very reminiscent of the data collected by the Apollo sensors on the lunar surface between 1969 and 1977. [19659003] At that time, a team of astronauts had installed five seismometers to measure thousands of earthquakes in the only natural satellite in the world.
The InSight probe system integrates French (low frequency) sensors. ) and British (high frequency).
This instrument, known as Seismic Experiment for Interior Structure (SEIS), was located on the Martian surface by the robotic arm of the probe on December 20th.
On April 6, both sides of the system observed the signal, although it was not possible to draw a definitive conclusion on the probable source of the earthquake or the distance between the probe and the event. It is likely that it is only an event of magnitude between 1 and 2, perhaps of a range of d & # 39; 39, about 100 kilometers . There is a lot of doubt about it, but that's what it seems, "says Professor Tom Pike, who heads the British seismometers team.
The experts said that very few people would notice an event of this magnitude in the Tierra,
An important achievement
The InSight team is also studying three other signals captured only by low-frequency sensors: one d & # 39; 39 between them on March 14, another on April 10 and another on April 11.
However, they were still smaller than the previous one and scientists still do not know if it is true seismic events
The mission of the probe is planned for a duration of two terrestrial years, which is equivalent to a little more than one Martian year.
Professor Pike calculates that, given the time necessary to perform this first detection, the probe I nSight should record a dozen seismic signals in the perimeter. odo of the initial commissioning.
"When you have only recorded one, you do not know if it's just lucky, but when we see two or three, we'll have a better idea," he says. he says.
"Of course, if we confirm the other three, we could expect many detections over the next two years."
The InSight probe was sent to Mars on May 5, 2018 and landed on March 27 November of the same year is considered an important result.
Landing on Mars is so difficult that about two-thirds of previous attempts have failed.
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