First recorded sounds from Mars

On 01/12/2018, NASA’s InSight lander captured the first recorded sounds of wind on Mars using its scientific instruments at Elysium Planitia. Although the spacecraft did not carry a dedicated microphone, vibrations caused by wind interacting with the lander were detected by the Auxiliary Payload Sensor Subsystem and the Seismic Experiment for Interior Structure. These sensors measured air pressure changes and mechanical vibrations as wind moved across the spacecraft’s solar panels, allowing engineers to convert the data into audible sound. The recordings were released by NASA a few days later, providing the first opportunity to hear atmospheric activity on another planet. The air pressure sensor recorded fluctuations directly in the thin Martian atmosphere, while the seismometer detected vibrations transmitted through the lander’s structure. Analysis indicated that wind speeds during the recording were between approximately 16 and 24 kilometers per hour. The raw signals were dominated by very low frequency vibrations that were difficult to hear on standard speakers. To make the sound audible, NASA processed the data by increasing the pitch by two octaves while preserving the original waveform characteristics. The resulting audio revealed a steady, low rumbling noise caused by wind interacting with the spacecraft. The observation demonstrated that InSight’s instruments could detect environmental conditions in addition to seismic activity. The data also helped scientists understand atmospheric dynamics near the Martian surface and provided context for interpreting future seismic measurements. By capturing pressure variations and mechanical vibrations simultaneously, researchers were able to distinguish wind noise from potential marsquake signals. The 01/12/2018 recording marked the first time atmospheric sounds from Mars were reconstructed from scientific measurements, offering a new way to study planetary environments. The technique later informed similar approaches used by other missions carrying microphones and environmental sensors on Mars.