The VxWorks real-time operating system (RTOS) was crucial in helping ensure NASA’s InSight Spacecraft made a safe landing on the surface of the planet Mars. See video.

NASA’s InSight Spacecraft, with the help of its VxWorks real-time operating system (RTOS), from Wind River, made its 12,300mph descent to Mars with a successful landing. With the Insight lander’s avionics system, which is based on VxWorks, InSight will be conducting science operations to gather data on how the planet formed, until Nov. 24, 2020 (which equates to one year and 40 days on Mars, or nearly two Earth years).

The Finnish Meteorological Institute’s MEDA PS and MEDA HS sensors are set to measure the pressure and humidity of the atmosphere of Mars. Based on Vaisala’s Barocap and Humicap sensor technologies, FMI’s devices will be part of the Spanish Mars Environmental Dynamic Analyzer (MEDA) suite of environmental sensors, which will be installed in the Mars 2020 Rover.

MEDA PS and MEDA HS are designed, built, and calibrated by FMI.

MEDA HS is a miniature relative humidity device that incorporates polymeric capacitive Humicap humidity sensors. It mounts on the remote sensing mast providing ventilation to the ambient atmosphere through a filter protecting the device from airborne dust.