Seismometer

A seismometer is an instrument that responds to ground noises and shaking such as caused by quakes, volcanic eruptions, and explosions. They are usually combined with a timing device and a recording device to form a seismograph.

In the aerospace context, a seismometer is an instrument used to measure ground vibrations, such as those produced by earthquakes, volcanic activity, and other seismic events. Seismometers can also be used to study the internal structure of a planet or moon.

Examples of seismometer in the aerospace context include:

• The Mars Insight lander, which landed on Mars in 2018, carries a seismometer called the Seismic Experiment for Interior Structure (SEIS) to study the planet's internal structure and to search for "marsquakes".
• The Apollo missions of NASA placed seismometers on the lunar surface during the 1970s, they were used to study the Moon's internal structure and to measure moonquakes.
• The InSight lander, which landed on Mars in 2018, carries a seismometer called the Seismic Experiment for Interior Structure (SEIS) to study the planet's internal structure and to search for "marsquakes".
• The next generation of missions like NASA's Artemis program, plans to place seismometers on the lunar surface as part of their scientific instruments package, in order to study the Moon's interior structure, and also to better understand the Moon's geology, thermal state, and tectonics.

Seismometers are important tools for studying the internal structure of planets and moons, and for understanding their geology, thermal state, and tectonics. These measurements can provide insights into the formation and evolution of planetary bodies and help us understand the processes that have shaped them.