Exploring Psyche: Unveiling an Asteroidal World's Secrets

In this depiction by an artist, we delve into the realm of Psyche, a metallic world—a celestial body named an asteroid. This asteroid provides an exceptional opportunity to gain insights into the fundamental components of how planets come into being. The NASA Psyche mission is set to commence its journey in 2023 with the goal of reaching the asteroid Psyche, positioned in orbit between Mars and Jupiter, by 2026. The spacecraft assigned to this mission, bearing the same name as the asteroid, will dedicate 21 months to encircling the asteroid, crafting maps of its surface, and conducting an in-depth analysis of its characteristics. The driving force behind this mission is Lindy Elkins-Tanton, the Principal Investigator hailing from Arizona State University. Overseeing the mission's comprehensive management, system engineering, integration and testing, as well as mission operations, is NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Contributing to the mission is Maxar Technologies, which is responsible for furnishing a high-power solar electric propulsion spacecraft chassis.