NASA Psyche Mission Charting a Metallic World

In this artistic portrayal, we delve into a metallic realm called Psyche, an asteroid that presents a distinctive opportunity to peer into the fundamental elements of planet formation. Set to launch in 2023, the NASA Psyche mission is slated to reach the asteroid Psyche, situated in the solar region between Mars and Jupiter, by 2026. The spacecraft, aptly named Psyche, will encircle the asteroid for a span of 21 months, meticulously charting its surface and investigating its characteristics. Spearheaded by Principal Investigator Lindy Elkins-Tanton from Arizona State University, the mission's comprehensive management, system engineering, integration and testing, along with mission operations, fall under the purview of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Notably, Maxar Technologies is contributing a high-power solar electric propulsion spacecraft framework for the endeavor.