What is NASA’s 2022 Psyche Mission all about?
NASA is currently undertaking a new space mission with the launch of its Psyche spacecraft in August 2022. This spacecraft is not scheduled to arrive at the landing location near the asteroid belt until 2026. What makes this such a unique feat is that it will orbit a world which has not been explored or visited yet. In fact, one can barely pinpoint it from earth. Read on to learn more about this potentially ground-breaking mission in the field of astronomy and science.
What is the main objective of the Psyche mission?
The primary objective of NASA’s Psyche mission is to finally launch exploration into a previously unchartered territory of the outer space. The main target of this space exploration is a metal-rich asteroid called Psyche which is situated in the main belt between Mars and Jupiter. This asteroid is unclear from earth even through extremely advanced telescopes. However, what scientists do know from radar data is that it is strangely rich in its metal content. The question about the asteroid’s purpose of existence is the driving force here: Did the Psyche form as a core of a planetesimal (a small piece of a planet) or was it simply space material that did not melt over time? Looking for these answers through this mission will provide more insight in regards to the causes behind the formation of earth’s solar system.
How will the spacecraft journey to the orbit?
The spacecraft will take of in the August of 2022 from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The total distance it will travel is calculated to be around 2.4 billion kilometres. The spacecraft will sail past planet Mars nine months post its launch. Then, it will use the gravitational force as emitted by Mars to slingshot itself towards asteroid Psyche. However, it will take a few years for it to actually get close enough to the asteroid- this will occur towards the end of 2025. When it reaches an ideal position as suggested by NASA engineers and the mission team, it will begin to capture high-definition images of the asteroid. Once its stability in the orbit is established, it will slowly be moved into a closer orbit the following year. This is NASA’s 14th mission of its Discovery Program, and will help seek answers to important questions about the universe.