PSYCHE
The Psyche mission is a NASA journey to a unique, metal-rich asteroid also named Psyche, which orbits the Sun between Mars and Jupiter. This is NASA's first mission to study an asteroid that is made primarily of metal rather than rock or ice.
Image generated by AI ( Gemini)
SANDRO BOTTICELLI • Venus and Mars • c.1485 • The National Gallery, London
THE PSYCHE MISSION
The psyche mission is a NASA journey to a unique, metal-rich asteroid also named Psyche, which orbits the Sun between Mars and Jupiter. This is NASA's first mission to study an asteroid that is made primarily of metal rather than rock or ice.
Details
event
November 26 at 5:16 PM
apps
Gemini Apps
chat
The Psyche mission is a NASA journey to a unique, metal-rich asteroid also named Psyche, which orbits the Sun between Mars and Jupiter. This is NASA's first mission to study an asteroid that is made primarily of metal rather than rock or ice.
Here are the key details of the mission:
Goal: The primary scientific goal is to determine if the asteroid Psyche is the exposed core of an early planetary building block (a planetesimal) that was stripped of its outer rocky layers by violent collisions billions of years ago. By studying it, scientists hope to gain insights into the formation of terrestrial planets like Earth, whose cores are inaccessible.
Timeline:
Launch: The spacecraft successfully launched on October 13, 2023, from Kennedy Space Center aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket.
Journey: It is currently on a six-year journey to the asteroid belt. It will use solar-electric propulsion and perform a gravity-assist flyby of Mars in May 2026 to gain speed.
Arrival: The spacecraft is scheduled to arrive at asteroid Psyche in August 2029.
Orbit: Once it arrives, it will orbit the asteroid for at least 26 months, performing science operations from four different orbital altitudes, getting progressively closer to the surface.
Spacecraft and Instruments: The Psyche orbiter is about the size of a tennis court with its solar panels fully deployed. It carries a suite of scientific instruments:
Multispectral Imager: A pair of cameras to provide high-resolution images of the asteroid's surface and identify its composition.
Gamma-Ray and Neutron Spectrometer: To determine the elemental composition of the asteroid's surface.
Magnetometer: To measure any remnant magnetic field, which would be strong evidence that Psyche was once the core of a planetary body.
Radio Science: Using the spacecraft's telecommunications system to measure the asteroid's gravity field and determine its interior structure.
Technology Demonstration: Hitching a ride on the spacecraft is the Deep Space Optical Communications (DSOC) experiment. This is testing a new laser communication technology that could allow for transmitting data from deep space at rates 10 to 100 times faster than current radio systems.
About the Asteroid: Asteroid 16 Psyche is one of the largest objects in the main asteroid belt. It is irregular and potato-shaped, measuring about 173 miles (280 kilometers) at its widest point. Recent data suggests it is likely a mixture of rock and metal, with metal making up 30% to 60% of its volume.
Esther Bryce
Founder / Interior designer
Lianne Wilson
Broker
Jaden Smith
Architect
Jessica Kim
Photographer
Our team
Our strength lies in our individuality. Set up by Esther Bryce, the team strives to bring in the best talent in various fields, from architecture to interior design and sales.
Esther Bryce
Founder / Interior designer
Lianne Wilson
Broker
Jaden Smith
Architect
Jessica Kim
Photographer