The Insight mission, short for Interior Exploration utilising Seismic Investigations, Geodesy, and Heat Transport, has ended after gathering data on Mars for four years.

The Insight mission, short for Interior Exploration utilising Seismic Investigations, Geodesy, and Heat Transport, has ended after gathering data on Mars for four years.

The lander missed its last two communication passes, and the 15th of December was the last time it "called home."

The lander missed its last two communication passes, and the 15th of December was the last time it "called home."

The researchers anticipated the abrupt quiet, as dust storms had deposited fine sand on the solar panels of the lander.

The researchers anticipated the abrupt quiet, as dust storms had deposited fine sand on the solar panels of the lander.

In the last days of the mission, the panels were producing fewer than 300 watts of power, despite their original capacity of 600 watts.

In the last days of the mission, the panels were producing fewer than 300 watts of power, despite their original capacity of 600 watts.

The 26th of December marked the beginning of spring in the northern hemisphere of Mars, when the weather begins to clear. 

The 26th of December marked the beginning of spring in the northern hemisphere of Mars, when the weather begins to clear. 

NASA will continue to listen for the lander via the international Deep-Space Network, but the outlook is not favourable.

NASA will continue to listen for the lander via the international Deep-Space Network, but the outlook is not favourable.