NASA InSight: A Plan to Get the Mole Moving Again

NASA InSight scientist/engineer Troy Hudson gives us the game plan for getting the mission's heat probe, also known as the "mole," digging again on Mars.

[ZeedijkMike]

Good luck guys. I'm convinced you find a good and working solution (you almost always do)

[unmountablebootvolume]

I really hope all of you at JPL get the mole digging again!
good luck!

[ironmaiden]

Pioneers helping humanity move forward. Thank you everyone.

[milky_wayan]

I love how they're trying to jury rig something on Mars, this is what NASA was made for, I wish them all the best.
Also, noticed the pride pin- I love NASA!

[piranha]

I was wondering about that, but couldn't find any recent updates. Thanks!

[mckapybara]

Many thanks for update info. Wish you the best!

[oldblinddarby]

I've been to jpl, and if you're a science geek like me, this place is wonderland. In fact, i went as a child, and what i saw was the final nail in the coffin in my path to becoming a scientist. I am now a published scientist, and if my aunt hadn't worked at JPL, i may never have been as inspired as I was/am to be a scientist.

Everyone i get down on humanity, something like the work here at JPL, NASA, etc. reminds me of how great we can be. If only more of us are as devoted to intellectual pursuits, the world would be a much better, less violent, and significantly more moral place.

[josemoreno]

I volunteer to go and set that probe straight

[thePronto]

Man, just the thought of 10 years of work being at risk really brings the situation home for me. A mixture of fear of making it worse and determination to make it right.

[DavidODuvall]

Praying for success! Best of luck in getting it going again!

[victorfaessel]

great to have this update. best of luck with a very interesting plan!

[dansv]

Thanks for the update. I have been intrigued by the self hammering nail since I first heard about it.
I know nothing I think of would be anything not already considered, but I would think the siesmographic readings would indicate if it is impacting a large solid rock as opposed to very loose sand. Waiting to hear of renewed progress.

[sausagemash]

Sounds like a good plan good luck, I assume if that does not work you have no way of pulling the mole out and starting again?

[michaelclement]

Thanks for posting, that's really interesting. Hopefully you are right that the problem is soil density. If the planned actions are not successful, what are some of potential strategies to try out next?

[REDACTD]

Could you command the mole probe to activate and strike a single time, while monitoring the seismometer for signals, then compare the results to a mockup back home? Could you detect if the mole is contacting a hard object? (like a stone)

That instrument right next to the hole is a seismometer correct?

[saidchaida]

That's why we need to send people to Mars!

[stuartbaines]

Interesting problem, might be wise to start the mole before deploying the arm
Visual check of surface changes would give a clue to the direction of any
Barrier. Or angle change of mole.

[velocity_raptor]

Lets all hope for the best and show our love to the mission!


Also... Is it possible to reposition the mole?

[newsreader]

Thank you Mr Scientist! So that's whats going on? Well, you make it sound Groundbreaking and Earthshattering! That's what people need these days, some Optimism!

[niklas]

The probe has a arm to place the instrument, why wasn't that used to apply some extra pressure while digging? In that low gravity, wouldn't any extra force help?