A new mission is on its way to the Red Planet right now. The InSight spacecraft will land using a parachute and rockets to slow itself and touch down gently on Mars' surface. This mission will study the interior of Mars, and will be the first spacecraft to drill below the soil on another planet to find out what is hidden beneath. 

Countdown to Insight -- Friday, November 23 to Sunday, November 25

To mark this milestone achievement, and to countdown to Insight's landing, an InSight half-scale model will be on view at the Udvar-Hazy Center all weekend. We will also be celebrating Mars with our Mars Experience bus,  a VR Mars Rover experience, and other hands-on activities. 

InSight Landing -- Monday, November 26

Join us on the day of the InSight landing to see the InSight model, take part in Mars hands-on activities, and explore the InSight mission.

  • 1:00 pm: Learn about InSight with a panel of experts:
    • Michael A. Meyer, lead scientist for NASA's Mars Exploration Program
    • Michael Kelley, Planetary Science Division scientist
    • Mitch Schulte, Mars Exploration Program scientist
  • 1:30 pm: Learn about MarsQuakes and the Seismology in Schools program with seismologist John Taber.
  • 2:00 pm: Watch the NASA livestream as InSight touches down.
  • 2:54 pm: InSight touchdown
 How to attend