An illustration shows a NASA spacecraft that is approaching the metal-rich asteroid psyche. Although there are no plans to reclaim psyche, such asteroids are viewed because of their valuable means.
Credit: NASA/JPL-CALTECH/ASU
Each electric bow thruster on Psyche only generates 250 Milli-Newton's thrust, roughly the same as the weight of three-quarters. But they can operate for months in succession and in the course of a multi -year cruise, these bow screws offer a more efficient way of propulsion than conventional missiles.
The plasma bow screws reform the path of the psyche spacecraft to its destination, a metal-rich asteroid also called psyche. The four electric motors of the spacecraft, known as Hall Effect Thrusters, were supplied by a Russian company called Fakel. Most other components in the drive system of Psyche – Controllers, Xenon – Fuel tanks, quicklines and valves – come from other companies or the primary manufacturer of the spacecraft, Maxar Space Systems in California.
The Psyche mission first goes to Mars, where the spacecraft will use the gravity of the planet next year to be used in the asteroid belt, which is set in the asteroid belt in August 2029 and to add the asteroid pherche.
Psyche was launched in October 2023 on board a SpaceX Falcon Heavy Rocket on the opening leg of a six -year -old stay through the solar system. The total costs of the mission go down to more than $ 1.4 billion, including the development of the spacecraft and its instruments, the launch, operations and an experimental laser communication package that takes a drive to deep space with psyche.
Psyche, the asteroid, is the size of Massachusetts and the sun circles between the jobs of Mars and Jupiter. No spacecraft Psyche has visited earlier. Of the approximately 1 million asteroids that have been discovered so far, scientists say that only nine have a metal -rich signature such as Psyche. The team of scientists who have compiled the Psyche mission has little idea of what to expect when the spacecraft will come there in 2029.
Metallic asteroids such as Psyche are a mystery. Most characteristics of Psyche are unknown, except estimates of the density and composition. Predictions about the appearance of Psyche's craters, cliffs and color have inspired artists to create a cacophony of illustrations, often with sharp spikes and grooves strange to rocky worlds.
In just over five years, assuming that NASA passes the propulsion problem of Psyche, scientists will replace speculation to solid data.
