NASA’s Psyche spacecraft is en route to a metal-rich asteroid, which shares its name, offering insights into the formation of rocky planets. Launched successfully at 10:19 a.m. EDT on Friday, October 13, aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from Launch Pad 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the mission features NASA’s Deep Space Optical Communications technology demonstration, showcasing deep space laser communications for more data bandwidth compared to traditional radio frequency communications.
The Psyche spacecraft, which boasts high iron-nickel metal content, is scheduled to start orbiting the 173-mile-wide asteroid by August 2029, offering scientists a unique opportunity to study a metal-class asteroid. The mission aims to uncover more about our universe, specifically the enigmatic metal core of Earth, our home planet.
For the journey to the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, Psyche relies on solar electric propulsion and will use Mars’ gravity to gain speed. The spacecraft’s first 100 days include a commissioning phase to check its systems. Active checkout of the science instruments will begin about six weeks from now. The first opportunity to power on the optical communications technology demonstration is expected in about three weeks, marking NASA’s first test beyond the Moon of high-data-rate optical communications. While hosted by Psyche, the tech demo will not relay Psyche mission data.
Arizona State University leads the Psyche mission, and JPL is responsible for mission management, system engineering, integration and test, and mission operations. Maxar Space provided the high-power solar electric propulsion spacecraft chassis.
NASA’s Launch Services Program at Kennedy Space Center is responsible for launch vehicle approval and management. NASA certified the SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket for the agency’s complex and high-priority missions in early 2023. Psyche is the 14th mission in NASA’s Discovery Program.
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