No, Mars InSight Won't Be Searching for Alien Life. Here's What It IS Looking For.

[Judi Lynn]

By Mindy Weisberger, Live Science Senior Writer | November 28, 2018 03:54pm ET

You may be wondering if InSight will meet native forms of life during its stay on Mars; alas, that question will remain unanswered. The hardy little lander won't be spending its time searching for signs of Martian microbes. Instead, InSight will send a probe to burrow several feet below the planet's surface.

In doing so, InSight will provide a never-before-seen glimpse into Mars' internal structure, which could help scientists figure out how Mars — and other rocky planets, like Earth — took shape in a young solar system. [Mars Insight Photos: A Timeline to Landing on the Red Planet]

On the surface, Mars is covered in red dust that is rich in iron oxide; this coating earned it the nickname "Red Planet." Even when viewed from Earth without a telescope, Mars appears reddish in color as it hangs amid the stars — in fact, its bloody appearance inspired ancient astronomers to name the planet after the Roman god of war, according to NASA.

However, this signature red color doesn't extend very far below the surface, as Curiosity discovered in 2013. After drilling about 2.5 inches (6.4 centimeters) into a rocky outcrop, the rover extracted rock dust that was light gray, offering a first look at subsurface material on Mars.

More:
https://www.space.com/42559-insight-mars-planetary-science-not-martians.html