NASA, the American space agency, is sending a robotic scientist to Mars. It will dig deeper than ever before to study the planet’s geological activity. The Mars InSight spacecraft launches May 5. On Mars, the spacecraft will use scientific instruments to take the first measurements of marsquakes, or quakes on Mars. It will also measure the circular movement of Mars on its axis to better understand the size and makeup of its core. The spacecraft’s instruments will permit scientists to stare down deep into the planet, said Bruce Banerdt. He is with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the mission’s chief scientist. The $1-billion, joint U.S.-European mission marks the first study of the inside of Mars. Scientists hope the research will help them understand how Mars formed 4.5 billion years ago.