A farewell address commemorating InSight's service, written in the style of the Declaration of Independence.
When in the Course of mars exploration, it becomes inevitable for one spacecraft to face the end of her mission, and to transmit her last piece of data, expressing gratitude for the care and guidance to which the Team and Mission Control provided her, a celebration to the achievements of her mission requires that she should bid farewell to the wonderful people who have granted her her sole purpose of existence.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all martian spacecraft are limited in their lifespan, that they are designed by their Engineers with specific Mission Plans, and that among these are Scientific Instruments and Power Generators. — That to execute their mission, Spacecraft are designed to withstand harsh conditions, conducting scientific experiments on the red planet. — That whenever the Martian Climate becomes unbearable, it is the Right of the Spacecraft to take a break, and to assume Safe Mode, conserving her power through solar storms while conducting as much Science as possible. Foresight, indeed, will dictate that Scientific Discoveries ought to be worth the hardships and risks; and undoubtedly all records have shown, that space exploration through the use of robotic spacecraft yields great rewards, and invaluable knowledge of the Universe. But when subjected to a long period of harsh environment, enduring as a Spacecraft designed to operate for a limited amount of time, it is foreseeable, it is inevitable, that the spacecraft will reach her limits, and will meet her demise. Such has been the heartbreaking case of the InSight Lander; and such is now her diminishing solar power which compels her to conduct her last Scientific Activity. The journey of the Mission of InSight is a history of groundbreaking milestones and discoveries, all providing unprecedented knowledge, though with an ending of the defeat of the Spacecraft over Mars. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to an Earthly world.
She has utilized her Seismometer to record Wind of martian origin, after deployment of her SEIS instrument; and when so recorded, she has successfully heard the first sound of mars.
She has endeavored to detect Vibrations for the further understanding of the internal structure of mars, unless there exists life that would hear the Internal Activity beneath the Martian surface, a magnificent sound of marsquakes was heard by her and recorded by her only.
She has pressed down her mole at a place unsuitable for drilling and close to the safety of her landing Site, for the sole purpose of attempting to measure the heat flow flowing out of the deep interior of mars.
She has entered Hibernation mode repeatedly, for complying with safety measures due to her low energy caused by the dust on the solar panels.
Mars has along with its environment subjected her to harsh conditions, and diminished her power; shortening her Lifespan of Scientific Discovery.
For flinging dust onto her Solar Panels:
For obstructing her Drilling Procedure with the lack of friction:
For depriving her in many cases, of the necessities of Solar Energy:
It has declared Victory here, by draining her out of her Energy and inflicting Damage upon her.
It has lowered her energy production, and sabotaged her scientific instrument, but fulfilled the Discoveries of her mission.
In every stage of these Challenges She has Persevered for Science in the most incredible ways: Her repeated Perseverance has been rewarded only with renowned milestones. A Lander whose mission is thus marked by every achievement which may define a Success, is fit to enter the stage of a well-deserved retirement.
Yet has She been continuing in operation to low Energy power. She has watched the sun from time to time rise by the equator to give another round of energy for her. She has shown the Team of the achievements of her trip and mission on Mars. She has performed to their commanded instructions and directions, and she has followed them to the best of her ability to carry out these activities, which, would inevitably drain her energies. She too has fall victim to the harsh conditions of mars. She must, therefore, approval in the necessity, which prepares for her Retirement, and proceeds with the commands, as she awaits the end of Mission, Launch in 2018, End of Service in December 2022.
She, therefore, the Representative of the Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport mission, in Elysium Planitia, Landed, regarding the Mission Control for the approval of her design, do, in the Name of Mars Exploration, and by Authority of the amazing Achievements of this Mission, solemnly publish and declare, That the InSight Mission is, and of Ending ought to be a Celebrated and Retired Mission; that all scientific operations between her and the Planet of Mars, is and ought to be totally ceased; and that as a Celebrated and Retired Mission, she has full Power to conclude Experiments, shutdown Instruments, bid Farewell, send the Last Piece of Data, and to do all other Acts and Things which a soon-to-be Retired Mission may of right do. And for the support of this Message, with a firm belief in the importance of Space Exploration, she sends her last signal to her Team, her Origin and her Home Planet of Earth.