Planetary Society logo
  • “Exploration is in our nature.” - Carl Sagan

Bruce Murray Space Image Library

InSight nearly ready for launch

InSight nearly ready for launch
InSight nearly ready for launch At the Astrotech payload processing facility at Vandenberg Air Force Base on April 6, 2018, engineers readied InSight for launch. The spacecraft is in launch configuration, upside down with landing legs tucked against the body, packed inside its backshell. Red caps cover the landing rockets, which are pointed up. The backshell is, in turn, attached to the cruise stage. The remaining step is to cap the assembly with a heat shield. The Planetary Society