“So, we say quite frankly that we are going to space to explore the interior,” stated Lindy Elkins-Tanton, the lead researcher for the Psyche mission at Arizona State University, in a briefing with reporters on Tuesday.
After reaching Psyche, the spacecraft will enter a series of progressively decreasing orbits, eventually culminating in an orbit just 40 miles (64 km) from the asteroid’s surface before concluding its mission in November 2031.
The Enigmatic Psyche: Unveiling Its Mysteries
Discovered in 1852, Psyche was named after the Greek mythological goddess of the soul. It stands as the largest asteroid among approximately nine known metallic asteroids, mainly composed of metal with a mixture of rock-like materials. “What Psyche looks like is anyone’s guess,” commented Elkins-Tanton.
The spacecraft is programmed to make a close approach to Mars in May 2026 to gain a gravitational assist that will boost its momentum and set it on a course for its ultimate destination.
This mission also marks a historic milestone with the demonstration of laser-based communication systems for high-bandwidth data transmission from beyond the Moon, a technological feat poised to revolutionize space communication.
Furthermore, this launch signifies NASA’s first mission featuring the Falcon Heavy rocket from SpaceX, owned by Elon Musk, and the first interplanetary mission flown by the Falcon Heavy.
A Sequence of Space Triumphs
This launch comes just two weeks after NASA successfully returned the largest sample of material ever collected from the surface of an asteroid to Earth. The target of that mission was Bennu, a near-Earth rocky asteroid.
In 2021, NASA launched the Lucy spacecraft on a 12-year expedition to study the Trojan asteroids, two large groups of space rocks orbiting the Sun ahead of and behind Jupiter’s path. Last September, NASA sent a spacecraft to impact an asteroid with enough force to alter its natural course – the first time humanity has ever changed the trajectory of a celestial body – as part of a successful planetary defense system test.
In summary, NASA’s mission to Psyche, launched with the aid of SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy, is a pivotal step in unraveling the enigma of Earth’s formation. This voyage to the metallic giant of the asteroid belt promises to unearth invaluable insights into the birth of our planet and other rocky celestial bodies. While it may be brimming with metallic wealth, this mission’s true wealth lies in the profound knowledge it seeks to unearth, rewriting the cosmic history books for generations to come.
