Nichols Martin
NASA‘s Interior Exploration Using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport, or InSight, exploration spacecraft has landed on Mars with the support of Northrop Grumman-made technologies.
The company said Monday it built InSight’s cruise stage and instrument heat pipes, lander diaphragm tanks and solar array assembly at facilities in Maryland and California.
Northrop also manufactured a composite heat shield and a reaction control system propellant tank composing United Launch Alliance‘s Atlas V Rocket, which served as the spacecraft’s launch vehicle.
The composite heat shield was made to boost the performance of the rocket’s first stage engine and provides protection against exhaust temperatures exceeding 4K degrees Fahrenheit.
InSight arrived at Mars on Nov. 26 after a six-month trip.
