Psyche
A NASA Discovery mission to the metal-rich asteroid 16 Psyche — possibly the exposed core of a shattered protoplanet. Using solar-electric propulsion, it will orbit and map a world made largely of metal, a type never before visited.
Imagery
Preparing Psyche's Thruster Installation
Engineers at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California prepare to integrate four Hall thrusters (beneath red protective covers) into the agency's Psyche spacecraft in July 2021.
2021
NASA/JPL-Caltech · NASA media (public domain)
This is the small-body-missions view of Psyche. See its main mission page for the full profile.
Targets & sample
Mission & science
- Goals
- Orbit and study a metal-rich asteroid to learn whether it is a planetary core.
- Engineering milestones
- Launched October 2023; arrival at 16 Psyche planned for 2029.
- Outcome
- In cruise — no results yet.
- Known limitations
- En route; arrival is planned for 2029.
Knowledge connections
- Operated byNASA
- Part of programDiscovery Program
- Launched byFalcon Heavy
- Launched fromKennedy Space Center
- Target of16 Psyche
- Member of groupOrbiter Mission
- Member of groupRendezvous Mission
- Operated byNASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
- Tracked byDeep Space Network (DSN)
- Associated withLaser Communication Terminal
- Associated withDeep Space Optical Communications (DSOC)
Sources
The primary and reference sources this topic draws on.
- NASANational Aeronautics and Space Administration
Mission data, planetary science, space telescopes, and public-domain imagery.
Most NASA-produced imagery is in the public domain; individual items are checked for usage terms before publication.
- NASA JPLJet Propulsion Laboratory / Solar System Dynamics
Orbital data, ephemerides, and small-body parameters for planets, asteroids, and comets.