# Psyche

> NASA spacecraft en route to metallic asteroid 16 Psyche

**Wikidata**: [Q21079313](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q21079313)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psyche_(spacecraft))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/psyche

## Summary
Psyche is a NASA space probe launched in October 2023 on a mission to explore the metallic asteroid 16 Psyche. It is part of NASA's Discovery Program and was built by Maxar Technologies for the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The spacecraft will travel to the asteroid belt to study what may be the exposed nickel-iron core of an early planet.

## Key Facts
- Launched on October 13, 2023, at 14:19:43 UTC from Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A
- Launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket
- Mass: 2,747 kg (launch weight) or 1,616 kg (dry weight)
- Dimensions: 24.7 meters wide with solar arrays deployed
- Powered by two solar arrays providing 4.5 kW nominal power output
- Propelled by four SPT-140 Hall-effect thrusters
- Built on Maxar's Lanteris 1300 spacecraft bus
- Mission cost: $957.6 million
- Operated by Arizona State University with JPL management
- Destination: Asteroid 16 Psyche in the main asteroid belt
- Mission duration: 6-year cruise to asteroid, followed by 21-month science phase

## FAQs
### Q: What is the Psyche spacecraft's mission?
A: Psyche's mission is to explore the metallic asteroid 16 Psyche, which may be the exposed core of a protoplanet. The spacecraft will study the asteroid's composition, geology, and magnetic field to understand planetary core formation and the early solar system.

### Q: When and how was Psyche launched?
A: Psyche launched on October 13, 2023, at 14:19:43 UTC aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A in Florida.

### Q: Who operates the Psyche mission?
A: The Psyche mission is operated by Arizona State University, with the Jet Propulsion Laboratory managing the project for NASA. Maxar Technologies built the spacecraft.

## Why It Matters
Psyche represents a groundbreaking mission to explore a unique metallic world that could reveal fundamental secrets about planetary formation. Unlike most asteroids composed of rock or ice, 16 Psyche appears to be made largely of metallic iron and nickel, potentially representing the exposed core of a planetesimal that lost its rocky outer layers through violent collisions. By studying this asteroid up close, scientists hope to understand the processes that created planetary cores, including Earth's. The mission also advances deep-space exploration technology, particularly the use of Hall-effect thrusters powered by solar electric propulsion for efficient long-duration spaceflight. As the 14th mission in NASA's Discovery Program, Psyche demonstrates how focused, cost-effective missions can tackle some of planetary science's most compelling questions. The data collected could revolutionize our understanding of how terrestrial planets form and evolve, providing insights that are impossible to obtain from Earth-based observations or studying other types of asteroids.

## Notable For
- First mission to explore a metallic asteroid rather than rocky or icy bodies
- Uses advanced solar electric propulsion with Hall-effect thrusters for deep-space travel
- Represents the 14th mission in NASA's cost-effective Discovery Program
- Built on Maxar's proven Lanteris 1300 spacecraft bus platform
- Launched aboard SpaceX's powerful Falcon Heavy rocket

## Body
### Mission Overview
Psyche is a robotic space probe designed to study the metallic asteroid 16 Psyche, located in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. The mission was selected by NASA in January 2017 as the 14th Discovery Program mission, with a planned 6-year cruise to the asteroid followed by 21 months of science operations in orbit.

### Technical Specifications
The spacecraft features a mass of 2,747 kg at launch, including propellant, or 1,616 kg in its dry configuration. When fully deployed, the spacecraft spans 24.7 meters across its twin solar arrays. The power system generates 4.5 kW of electrical power through these solar arrays, which also serve as the spacecraft's primary electric power source.

### Propulsion System
Psyche employs four SPT-140 Hall-effect thrusters for propulsion, making it one of the most advanced electric propulsion spacecraft ever launched. This system provides efficient, continuous thrust ideal for the long journey to the asteroid belt, significantly reducing the amount of propellant needed compared to chemical propulsion.

### Scientific Objectives
The mission's primary goal is to determine whether 16 Psyche is indeed the exposed core of a protoplanet, study its composition and age, analyze its formation processes, and characterize its topography. The spacecraft carries a multispectral imager, gamma-ray and neutron spectrometer, magnetometer, and microwave radiometer to conduct these investigations.

### Development and Launch
Maxar Technologies served as the prime contractor, building the spacecraft on their Lanteris 1300 platform. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory manages the mission for NASA, while Arizona State University leads the science operations. The spacecraft launched successfully on October 13, 2023, aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket, marking the first interplanetary launch on this vehicle.

## References

1. [Source](https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/psyche.htm)
2. Jonathan's Space Report
3. [Source](https://spacenews.com/nasa-selects-two-asteroid-missions-for-discovery-program/)
4. [Source](https://d2pn8kiwq2w21t.cloudfront.net/documents/psyche-press-kit.pdf)
5. [Source](https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/press-kits/psyche/quick-facts)
6. [Source](https://spacenews.com/software-problem-delays-nasa-psyche-launch/)