What is NASA's Psyche mission?
The Psyche mission represents an ambitious venture to explore a distinct metallic asteroid positioned in orbit between Mars and Jupiter. The exceptional feature of this asteroid, named Psyche, is its composition, believed to be the exposed nickel-iron core of an ancient planet – a fundamental building block of our solar system.
While the metallic cores of rocky planets like Earth are concealed deep beneath layers of rock and crust, Psyche offers a rare opportunity to directly investigate one such core. By studying Psyche, scientists aim to gain insights into the tumultuous history of planetary formation through collisions and accretion.
The mission is spearheaded by Arizona State University, with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory overseeing mission management, operations, and navigation. The spacecraft’s solar-electric propulsion system will be constructed by Maxar (formerly SSL), complemented by a suite of scientific instruments.
Unveiling Iron Cores: The primary objective is to comprehend a previously uncharted component of planet formation: iron cores.
Exploring a Metal World: Psyche represents a novel celestial body made predominantly of metal, contrasting with the typical rock and ice composition of other objects in our solar system.
Core Identification: Determine whether Psyche is indeed a core or composed of unmelted materials.
Multispectral Imager: A tool for capturing images in multiple wavelengths, aiding in the analysis of Psyche’s surface.
Deep Space Optical Communication (DSOC): A pioneering laser communication technology, operating in near-infrared wavelengths, enhances data transmission between the spacecraft and Earth, enabling more efficient communication.
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