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This photo provided by NASA / JPL-Caltech shows an image acquired by NASA Mars InSight Mars with the help of its arm-mounted instrument deployment camera (IDC). The image was acquired on March 1, 2019, ground 92, where the average local time of solar exposure of images was 16: 53: 31,055. Scientists say NASA's last lander, Mars, began digging the red planet, but that he encountered some difficulties. (NASA / JPL-Caltech via AP)
The last lander of NASA, Mars, began digging the red planet, but met with some difficulties, scientists said Friday.
The German drilling instrument on the InSight lander struck what appeared to be some stones. He managed to dig only half a foot (18 centimeters) about 50 centimeters, well below the goal of the first search, said the German Aerospace Center.
The hammering device in the "mole" was developed by the Astronika engineering company in Poland.
"This is not a very good news for me because, even if the hammer is proven, the environment of Mars is not very favorable to us," said the chief engineer of the company, Jerzy Grygorczuk.
Over time, the team seeks to reach a maximum depth of 5 meters, which would set a record of another world. The lander is digging very deep to measure the internal temperature of the planet.
InSight landed on Mars last November. The NASA reaction propulsion laboratory flight controllers in California sent orders to LG on Thursday to start digging. He will rest a bit before digging again.
The probe already has a seismometer on the surface, listening for potential earthquakes. The lander is still, but has a robotic arm to maneuver these two main experiences.
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The Associated Press Science & Science Department is supported by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
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