Pedal to the Metal: NASA’s Psyche Heads Toward Asteroid Belt

NASA's Psyche spacecraft has successfully entered a phase of accelerated progress, powered by its solar-powered propulsion system, as it heads towards the metal-rich asteroid of the same name. Following a successful Mars gravity assist in 2023, the spacecraft has been steadily using its electric propulsion system for navigation assistance.

The spacecraft, managed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory at Caltech, relies on solar-powered propulsion, which uses electromagnetic fields to deliver up to 250 millinewtons of force — equivalent to the weight of a single AA battery. This highly efficient system operates on xenon propellant, creating a bright blue glow as charged atoms, or ions, of the inert gas are expelled to generate thrust.

With a maximum speed of over 100,000 mph (160,900 kph) during cruise, the Psyche spacecraft is utilizing its two five-panel solar arrays, each covering an area of 75 square meters, to generate electricity from sunlight. The spacecraft has used about one-third of its 2,400 pounds (1,090 kilograms) of xenon propellant since launch, leaving ample supply for its journey to the asteroid.

Mission engineers are also working to compensate for the slight torque created by the expelled ions, which could interfere with the spacecraft's pointing. To counteract this, reaction wheels are used to change their spin rate, absorbing the excess angular momentum generated by the thrusters.

Upon arrival in 2029, the Psyche spacecraft will insert itself into orbit around the asteroid, which is believed to be the partial core of an early planetesimal. Studying this unique object could provide significant insights into the interior of rocky planets like Earth.