JPL
Careers
Education
Science & Technology
JPL Logo
JPL Logo
Solar System .

Sounds of Mars: NASA's InSight Senses Martian Wind

Dec 07, 2018

Your browser cannot play the provided video file(s).

Listen to Martian wind blow across NASA's InSight lander. The spacecraft's seismometer and air pressure sensor picked up vibrations from 10-15 mph (kph) winds as they blew across Mars' Elysium Planitia on Dec. 1, 2018.

Transcript:

"Touch down confirmed." InSight set down on Mars on November 26. On board the lander is a highly sensitive seismometer meant to study marsquakes.

On December 1 the seismometer recorded vibrations: vibrations caused by Martian wind. The wind was blowing across the lander's solar panels, causing small movements.

The recording of these vibrations is in the audible range of human hearing. The sounds are very low pitch and best heard with headphones and subwoofers.

It's playing now. Don't hear it yet?

At an increased pitch, it is audible on laptops and mobile devices. Audio has been pitched up two octaves.

A second instrument, the air pressure sensor, also recorded the sounds of the winds. APSS data sped up by a factor of 100, shifting it up in frequency 100X. Eventually, mission engineers will move the seismometer off the lander and onto the ground in front of it. There it will gather vibrations coming from deep within the planet to teach us about the interior of Mars.

Download m4v

Related Pages

News .

NASA’s Perseverance Drives on Mars’ Terrain for First Time

News .

NASA Awards Mars Ascent Propulsion System Contract for Sample Return

News .

NASA to Provide Update on Perseverance ‘Firsts’ Since Mars Landing

News .

NASA to Reveal New Video, Images From Mars Perseverance Rover

News .

NASA's Mars Perseverance Rover Provides Front-Row Seat to Landing, First Audio Recording of Red Planet

News .

NASA’s Mars Helicopter Reports In

News .

NASA’s Perseverance Rover Sends Sneak Peek of Mars Landing

News .

Touchdown! NASA’s Mars Perseverance Rover Safely Lands on Red Planet

News .

Searching for Life in NASA’s Perseverance Mars Samples

News .

The Mars Relay Network Connects Us to NASA’s Martian Explorers

About JPL
Who We Are
Executive Council
Directors of JPL
JPL History
Documentary Series
Virtual Tour
Annual Reports
Missions
All
Current
Past
Future
News
All
Earth
Mars
Solar System
Universe
Technology
Galleries
Images
Videos
Audio
Podcasts
Infographics
Visions of the Future
Slice of History
Engage
JPL and the Community
Lecture Series
Public Tours
Events
Team Competitions
JPL Speakers Bureau
Topics
Solar System
Mars
Earth
Climate Change
Stars and Galaxies
Exoplanets
Technology
JPL Life
For Media
Contacts and Information
Press Kits
More
Asteroid Watch
Robotics at JPL
Subscribe to Newsletter
Universe Newsletter
Social Media
Get the Latest from JPL
Follow Us

JPL is a federally funded research and development center managed for NASA by Caltech.

More from JPL
Careers Education Science & Technology Acquisitions JPL Store
Careers
Education
Science & Technology
Acquisitions
JPL Store
Related NASA Sites
Basics of Spaceflight
Climate Kids
Earth / Global Climate Change
Exoplanet Exploration
Mars Exploration
Solar System Exploration
Space Place
NASA's Eyes Visualization Project
Voyager Interstellar Mission
NASA
Caltech
Privacy
Image Policy
FAQ
Feedback
Site Manager: Veronica McGregor
Site Editors: Tony Greicius, Randal Jackson, Naomi Hartono