NASA's Psyche spacecraft, launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket, has begun its historic journey to explore Asteroid Psyche, a metal-rich celestial body that may hold secrets about planet formation. (representative image) (pixabay)

NASA Resumes Asteroid Hunting with Psyche Mission: Here’s What They’re Searching For

The successful launch of NASA’s Psyche spacecraft marks the beginning of an innovative mission to investigate an asteroid named Psyche. This asteroid, known for its abundance of metals, has the potential to provide valuable insights into the origins of terrestrial planets.

Integrated into the Psyche spacecraft is a demonstration of NASA’s Deep Space Optical Communications technology, which is designed to test deep space laser communications for future missions, providing greater data transfer bandwidth compared to traditional radio frequency communications.

NASA Psyche mission

Shortly after launch, the spacecraft separated from the rocket and entered a planned fail-safe mode, during which it performed minimal engineering operations while awaiting further commands from controllers on Earth.

Psyche established two-way communication at 11:50 a.m. EDT with NASA’s Deep Space Network complex in Canberra, Australia, and initial telemetry reports indicated that the spacecraft is in good health.

The Psyche spacecraft is scheduled to reach the 173-mile-wide metal-class asteroid by August 2029. This asteroid is unique because of its high iron-nickel metal content, which may mean it is part of a planetesimal, a building block. from an early planet.

The goal of the mission is a 26-month long scientific study in which it orbits the asteroid and unlocks valuable insights into the formation of planets.

The spacecraft will rely on solar power for its six-year journey to the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, using Mars’ gravity as a slingshot to accelerate its journey.

During the first 100 days of the mission, the deployment phase ensures that all flight systems are working properly, including the electric thrusters and scientific instruments.

The spacecraft launched at 10:19 a.m. EDT from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket.

Psyche is the 14th mission selected for NASA’s Discovery program and is a collaborative project led by Arizona State University, managed by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory with support from SpaceX and several technology demonstration projects.