NASA Updates

Highlights from the Oct. 13, 2023, launch of NASA’s Psyche spacecraft, which will travel 2.2 billion miles to a metal-rich asteroid in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. Psyche lifted off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 7:19 a.m PDT (10:19 a.m. EDT). The mission, which is the first to explore a metal-rich asteroid, aims to help scientists learn more about the formation of rocky bodies – including Earth – in our solar system. The Psyche spacecraft is equipped with four scientific investigations: the magnetometer, gamma-ray and neutron spectrometer, multispectral imager, and gravity science experiment. In addition, a technology demonstration called Deep Space Optical Communications (DSOC) will fly on Psyche in order to test high-data-rate laser communications. Psyche is scheduled to arrive at the asteroid in 2029 and orbit for about 26 months. NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California manages the mission, which is led by Arizona State University. NASA’s Launch Services Program at Kennedy Space Center manages launch operations and procured the SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket. Maxar Technologies delivered the solar electric propulsion chassis and most of its engineering hardware systems. For more information about NASA’s Psyche mission go to nasa.gov/psyche. For more information about DSOC, go to: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/tdm/dsoc/index.html NASA , JPL , Jet Propulsion Laboratory , ASU , Psyche , Maxar Technologies , Kennedy Space Center , Cape Canaveral , Florida , SpaceX , Falcon Heavy , rocket , boosters , launch , separation , spacecraft , space , asteroid , iron-nickel , metal-rich asteroid , metal , launch , signal , acquisition of signal , solar power , solar arrays , solar electric propulsion , solar panels , sun , sun-powered , deploy , unfold , DSOC , deep space optical communications , testing , core , planetesimal , early planet , primordial solar system object , engineers , scientists , solar electric propulsion , chassis , rocky bodies , space flight operations facility , mission support area , mission control , 2026 , 2029

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Ahead of an upcoming series of spacewalks scheduled for October 12 and October 20, Dana Weigel, deputy program manager, International Space Station, Elias Myrmo, spacewalk flight director, Faruq Sabur, U.S. spacewalk 89 officer, and Sandra Fletcher, U.S. spacewalk 90 officer, discussed the procedures and tasks for the spacewalks and answered questions from media and social media on October 6. During the spacewalk on Oct. 12, NASA astronaut Loral O’Hara and ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Andy Mogensen will exit the station’s Quest airlock to collect samples for analysis to see whether microorganisms may exist on the exterior of the orbital complex. They also will replace a high-definition camera on the port truss of the station and conduct other maintenance work to prepare for future spacewalks. During the spacewalk on Oct. 20 O’Hara and NASA astronaut Jasmin Moghbeli will complete the removal of a faulty electronics box, called a Radio Frequency Group, from a communications antenna on the starboard truss of the station and replace one of twelve Trundle Bearing Assemblies on the port truss Solar Alpha Rotary Joint. Join NASA as we go forward to the Moon and on to Mars -- discover the latest on Earth, the Solar System and beyond with a weekly update in your inbox.