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CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla., Aug. 14 (UPI) — Preparations are underway for the imminent launch of a groundbreaking NASA orbiter. This orbiter, equipped with advanced electric propulsion technology, will embark on a mission to study 16 Psyche, an asteroid believed to consist primarily of iron and once the core of a planet.
Named after its target, the $985 million project aims to investigate the formation of 16 Psyche, which lies between 235 and 309 million miles away from Earth, and determine if it formed similarly to our own planet.
The Psyche spacecraft, measuring 10 feet by 8 feet, is scheduled for launch on October 5th using a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. This launch will give the probe the necessary speed to escape both Earth’s and the sun’s gravitational pull.
Once on its way, the spacecraft will utilize innovative ion propulsion technology, powered by solar panels, which will generate electromagnetic fields for charged xenon gas. This technology allows for precise control and efficient movement in space and will be employed by the spacecraft’s four Hall-effect thrusters during its two-year journey.
Originally planned for October 2022, the Psyche mission was delayed due to flight software issues. However, the software has successfully passed all tests and has been installed on the spacecraft.
NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California, is responsible for managing the mission, operations, and navigation, while the solar-electric propulsion chassis was constructed by Maxar and equipped with an imaging system, magnetometer, and gamma-ray spectrometer.
During its mission, Psyche will collect data on the asteroid’s topography and chemical composition, with a specific focus on detecting any evidence of a magnetic field. The ultimate goal is to gain a better understanding of how planets, such as Earth, form through collisions and debris accumulation over billions of years.
In anticipation of the mission, NASA officials unveiled the spacecraft at the Astrotech Space Operations Facility in Titusville, Florida, presenting its significance to the public.
One of the mission’s scientists, JPL’s Henry Stone, highlighted the importance of studying bodies like 16 Psyche to validate our understanding of the solar system’s origins. Stone explained, “The presence of a magnetic core and a magnetic field is what makes life possible on Earth.”
The asteroid Psyche was discovered by Italian astronomer Annibale de Gasparis on March 17, 1852, and was named after the Greek god Psyche. The research conducted during this mission will provide valuable insights into the birth of the solar system and the processes involved in creating habitable planets.
Psyche will arrive near Mars and use a gravity assist maneuver to propel itself toward the asteroid belt. It is expected to reach 16 Psyche in August 2029, entering orbit 435 miles above its surface. Over the course of the following months, the spacecraft will conduct surveys, lowering its orbit and collecting data on the asteroid’s topography, magnetic field, and chemical composition.
The entire mission, including data collection and analysis, is expected to last 21 months. Additionally, the spacecraft will test advanced laser-based communication techniques, which will be crucial for future deep space exploration missions.
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