NASA’s much-anticipated Psyche mission is on schedule for launch on Thursday, October 12, 2023. The main objective of this mission is to study an M-type (metallic) asteroid named Psyche, which is believed to hold intriguing secrets about the Solar System.
Scientists believe that the asteroid Psyche may be hiding volcanic ‘lava’ plains made entirely of pure iron or steep mountains of metal. These previously unseen formations have the potential to provide valuable insights into the nature, composition, and evolution of asteroids in general, as well as shed light on how the Solar System originated.
Psyche was a standout contender in NASA’s Discovery program in 2015 and received final approval in 2017. The spacecraft tasked with this remarkable mission comes in a compact size, roughly that of a Smart car, and has been developed by Maxar Technologies. NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena will handle its operations.
Equipped with two large solar panel arrays and powered by solar electric propulsion thrusters, the Psyche spacecraft will undertake a gravity assist fly-by from Mars in 2026 before ultimately reaching the asteroid in 2029.
Once it reaches the asteroid, the Psyche spacecraft will spend 21 months orbiting at various altitudes to conduct a comprehensive study of the asteroid’s magnetic field, topography, gravitational field, and chemical composition. Thanks to its advanced multispectral imager, high-resolution images of the asteroid’s surface will also be captured.
To further enhance scientific analysis, the spacecraft will carry magnetometers, a gamma-ray and neutron spectrometer, and a 2-meter-diameter antenna for radio communication and mapping Psyche’s gravitational field. Remarkably, the mission will additionally test a groundbreaking method of spacecraft communication using near-infrared lasers instead of traditional radio waves.
The Psyche mission has been likened to NASA’s successful Dawn mission, which orbited the asteroids Ceres and Vesta. Scientists involved in the Psyche mission are hopeful that it will help unravel the mysteries surrounding the formation and origin of the asteroid and potentially surprise them with unexpected discoveries.
With its launch just a few years away, the anticipation surrounding the Psyche mission continues to grow. Excitement is building among scientists and space enthusiasts alike, as they eagerly await the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get a closer look at this enigmatic metallic asteroid and unlock the secrets it holds within.
