![Ion Thrusters of NASA’s Psyche Spacecraft Activate on Journey to Asteroid 2 1 pia23875 spacecraft illustration 2000](https://i0.wp.com/theubj.com/uae/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/1-pia23875-spacecraft-illustration-2000.jpg?w=1170)
As the Psyche spacecraft journeys past Mars’ orbit, it ignites its ion propulsion system for acceleration toward an asteroid abundant in metals to conduct its scientific exploration.
The six-month mark has been reached by NASA’s Psyche probe, and it has successfully passed its health check. The spacecraft’s innovative electric thrusters are now being used almost continuously to propel it deeper into space, utilizing their distinctive blue glow for navigation.
Launching from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy on October 13, 2023, Psyche took advantage of the momentum gained post-launch to travel beyond Mars’ orbit.
The upcoming year will be spent with the spacecraft in “full cruise” mode, during which the solar electric propulsion system’s thrusters, powered by sunlight, will be responsible for advancing it toward the asteroid belt. Expelling ions of xenon, the thrusters create a gentle, yet relentless thrust, analogous to the feeling of balancing three quarters in your palm.
Now over 190 million miles (300 million kilometers) from Earth, Psyche travels at 23 miles per second (37 kilometers per second), or 84,000 mph (135,000 kph). Without atmospheric drag, it is expected to reach speeds up to 124,000 mph (200,000 kph).
Upon reaching the metal-abundant asteroid Psyche in 2029, the spacecraft is slated to orbit and study it for two years, providing insights that may illuminate the origins of Earth-like planetary cores. The asteroid, with a 173-mile (280 kilometers) diameter, appears to be a fragment of a planetesimal’s core.
During its initial 100 days in space, all systems within the spacecraft were rigorously inspected, with its engineering systems and three scientific instruments confirmed to be functioning flawlessly. Notably, the magnetometer detected solar particle emissions, and the gamma-ray and neutron spectrometer is also operational. Additionally, the imaging equipment secured its inaugural images in December.
“So far, we have been progressively activating and validating the various components necessary for mission completion, and we proudly report their perfect operation,” remarked Henry Stone, Psyche’s project manager at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, the managing body for the mission. “We’re now en route and anticipate passing closely by Mars.”
Psyche will use a Mars gravity assist in spring 2026, briefly deactivating its thrusters as it closes in on Mars to harness the planet’s gravitational force to catapult towards its destination: the asteroid Psyche.
In parallel, the spacecraft’s Deep Space Optical Communications experiment continues to impress, as it succeeded in transmitting test data over a 140 million-mile (226 million kilometers) distance at 267 megabits per second, comparable to home broadband services.
Arizona State University heads the Psyche mission, with JPL, a unit of Caltech in Pasadena, overseeing management, system engineering, integration, testing, and mission operations. The spacecraft’s construction, featuring a solar electric propulsion chassis, was facilitated by Maxar Technologies of Palo Alto, California.
JPL manages the DSOC for NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate’s Technology Demonstration Missions program, and the Space Communications and Navigation program within the Space Operations Mission Directorate.
The Discovery Program of NASA, managed by the agency’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, includes Psyche as its 14th mission. The Launch Services Program at Kennedy handled the launch service arrangements.
Further details on NASA’s Psyche project can be found at:
http://www.nasa.gov/psyche
Please direct inquiries to:
Gretchen McCartney
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.
818-287-4115
gretchen.p.mccartney@jpl.nasa.gov
Karen Fox / Charles Blue
NASA Headquarters, Washington
301-286-6284 / 202-802-5345
karen.c.fox@nasa.gov / charles.e.blue@nasa.gov
News Release: 2024-069{p>
FAQs about NASA’s Psyche Mission and its Sci-Fi Thrusters
- What is the main objective of NASA’s Psyche spacecraft mission?
- How does the Psyche spacecraft’s propulsion system work?
- When will Psyche reach the asteroid?
- Has the Psyche spacecraft conducted any tests during its journey?
- How fast will Psyche be traveling?
The mission aims to orbit and study a metal-rich asteroid named Psyche to better understand the early solar system and the development of planetary cores.
Psyche uses a solar electric propulsion system, which involves ion thrusters that expel charged ions of xenon to generate thrust. This propels the spacecraft through space.
The probe is expected to arrive at the asteroid Psyne in 2029 and will spend approximately two years conducting scientific observations.
Yes, all spacecraft systems and scientific instruments have been thoroughly tested and are working well. Psyche’s imaging system has already taken its first photos, and the magnetometer successfully detected solar eruptions.
The spacecraft is currently moving at 23 miles per second (37 kilometers per second) relative to Earth, and is expected to accelerate to speeds of up to 124,000 mph (200,000 kph).
Conclusion
NASA’s Psyche spacecraft is on a path-breaking journey to a distant asteroid, powered by a futuristic and highly efficient ion propulsion system. Its successful tests and the novel technology it carries promise to not only expand our knowledge of space but also to provide insights into the history of the planetary formation. As it continues its voyage, scientists look forward to the wealth of information Psyche will deliver upon its anticipated arrival at the metal-rich asteroid in 2029.