NASA’s InSight machine (Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport) successfully touched down on the Red Planet after an almost seven-month, 300-million-mile (458-million-kilometer) journey from Earth.

InSight’s two-year mission will be to study the deep interior of Mars to learn how all celestial bodies with rocky surfaces, including Earth and the Moon, were formed.

After InSight launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California on May 5th, the lander touched down Monday, November 26th, near Mars’ equator on the western side of a flat, smooth expanse of lava called Elysium Planitia, with a signal affirming a completed landing sequence.

“We hit the Martian atmosphere at 12,300 mph (19,800 kilometers per hour), and the whole sequence to touching down on the surface took only six-and-a-half minutes,” said InSight project manager Tom Hoffman at JPL. “During that short span of time, InSight had to autonomously perform dozens of operations and do them flawlessly – and by all indications, that is exactly what our spacecraft did.”

InSight will begin to collect science data within the first week after landing, though the teams will focus mainly on preparing to set InSight’s instruments on the Martian ground. At least two days after touchdown, the engineering team will begin to deploy InSight’s 5.9-foot-long (1.8-meter-long) robotic arm so that it can take images of the landscape.

“Today, we successfully landed on Mars for the eighth time in human history,” said NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine. “InSight will study the interior of Mars and will teach us valuable science as we prepare to send astronauts to the Moon and later to Mars. This accomplishment represents the ingenuity of America and our international partners, and it serves as a testament to the dedication and perseverance of our team. The best of NASA is yet to come, and it is coming soon.”

InSight will operate on the surface for one Martian year, plus 40 Martian days, or sols, until November 24, 2020.

(WATCH the heartwarming reaction video below) – Photo by Nasa Jet Propulsion Laboratory

This article originally appeared on Good News Network.

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Unlike kids his age, Davis doesn’t want to wait until he’s older to realize his potential, rather, he wants to get to work right now. Davis recently wrote a cover letter to NASA applying for its recently announced Planetary Protection Officer position.

In the handwritten note – penned on August 3 – Davis made his case for consideration for the job opening.

“One of the reasons is my sister says I am an alien,” he wrote, adding, “also, I have seen almost all the space and alien movies I can see.”

He concluded his letter: “I am young, so I can learn to think like an alien,” then signed his name along with the self-ascribed title, “Guardian of the Galaxy.”

READ: Little Girl Passes on Autograph from MLB Players to Get Female Soldier’s Instead

As they would any applicant, NASA replied to Jack’s application, and, while they concluded he’s not fit to take on the role at this time, they were impressed with his enthusiasm and encouraged him to work toward his goal.

“Our Planetary Protection Officer position is really cool and is very important work,” wrote Planetary Science Division Director, Dr. James L. Green. “It’s about protecting Earth from tiny microbes when we bring back samples from the Moon, asteroids and Mars. It’s also about protecting other planets and moons from our germs as we responsibly explore the Solar System.

“We are always looking for bright future scientists and engineers to help us, so I hope you will study hard and do well in school. We hope to see you here at NASA one of these days!” he concluded NASA’s response, which they also shared (along with Jack’s letter) on Twitter.

When 4th grader and self-proclaimed “Guardian of the Galaxy”, Jack, wrote to us about applying for a job, we replied https://t.co/932pj3Q50B pic.twitter.com/RhcGdnzGAw

— NASA (@NASA) August 4, 2017

On Monday morning, Jack and his father, Bryan appeared on Good Morning America to talk about the letter, and the younger Davis revealed how he found out about the position.

“One morning I was about to go to camp and then my dad said to the Amazon Echo “what’s up?” and she said “there’s a new NASA job, Planetary Protection Officer, sounds like something out of Men in Black,” Jack said.

Bryan said he was “taken by surprise” by the response to his son’s letter.

“I figured my friends would enjoy it and get a laugh and we had no idea that it would be everywhere within hours, I mean, we were sort of shocked, he said.

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(Photo Credit: NASA)

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