All articles tagged with #metal rich asteroid
NASA's Psyche spacecraft used a Mars gravity assist during a May flyby to accelerate on its six-year, 2.2-billion-mile journey to the metal-rich asteroid Psyche, which it is expected to reach by 2029 to study Earth's core. NASA released new Mars images from about 2,800 miles above the surface, along with a timelapse video of the encounter.
NASA’s Psyche spacecraft completed a Mars flyby on May 15, 2026, coming within 2,864 miles (4,609 km) of the planet to perform a gravity assist that boosted its speed by about 1,000 mph and nudged its orbital plane by roughly 1 degree, setting it on a course to the metal-rich asteroid Psyche in 2029. The encounter also served as a calibration run for the spacecraft’s cameras and instruments and yielded high-resolution views of Mars, including the south polar ice cap. After Mars, Psyche will resume its solar-electric propulsion-powered voyage to the main asteroid belt, where it will map and study Psyche to test whether it represents the exposed core of an early planetesimal and could reveal insights into rocky planets like Earth.
NASA’s Psyche spacecraft completed a Mars flyby to gain a gravity assist, receiving a ~1,000 mph speed boost and a slight shift in its orbit as it heads toward the metal-rich asteroid Psyche. The Mars encounter served as a calibration opportunity for its instruments, including cameras and spectrometers, before arriving at Psyche in mid-2029 to map and study the asteroid’s interior, potentially revealing clues about planetary cores.
NASA's Psyche spacecraft will perform a close flyby of Mars to gain a gravity boost before heading to the metal-rich asteroid Psyche, arriving in 2029 for up-close study; the mission uses solar-electric propulsion and aims to reveal whether Psyche is an exposed nickel-iron core and shed light on early solar system formation.
A NASA spacecraft chasing the metal-rich Psyche asteroid will swing by Mars for a gravity boost at about 12,333 mph, snapping thousands of photos to tune its instruments ahead of a 2029 rendezvous with the asteroid belt target that scientists suspect may be the exposed core of a protoplanet.
NASA’s Psyche spacecraft is approaching Mars for a gravity assist that will boost its trek to the metal-rich asteroid 16 Psyche, using the Martian slingshot to accelerate its multi-year journey with an expected arrival around 2029 to study what may be the exposed core of a protoplanet.
NASA is planning to capture the highly valuable asteroid 16 Psyche, which contains precious metals and is worth an estimated $10 quintillion, potentially impacting global economies and the value of gold. The mission aims to study planetary cores and the formation of planets, but experts warn that such an event could drastically reduce gold's value and have unforeseen consequences.
NASA's Psyche mission successfully launched on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket, heading towards the metal-rich asteroid Psyche. The spacecraft will study the asteroid's composition and formation of rocky planets, while also testing Deep Space Optical Communications technology. The mission will undergo a commissioning phase and is expected to reach the asteroid in 2029. The use of SpaceX's Falcon Heavy marks a first for NASA, as it is the first time the launcher has been entrusted with the agency's "most complex and highest priority missions." The reliance on SpaceX highlights the limited options for Western launch providers, as other companies face delays and supply issues.
NASA's Psyche spacecraft, launched atop a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket, is on its way to study a metal-rich asteroid called Psyche located in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. This is NASA's first mission to explore an asteroid with more metal than rock or ice. The spacecraft is also carrying a pioneering technology demonstration called Deep Space Optical Communications (DSOC), which will test laser communications beyond the Moon. The mission aims to unlock secrets about planet formation and evolution while advancing optical communication capabilities for future space exploration.
NASA has released a video series called "Behind the Spacecraft," featuring members of the Psyche mission team who share their motivations and passion for exploring the unknown. The series highlights the stories of engineers and technicians who have dedicated years to constructing the spacecraft that will journey to the metal-rich asteroid Psyche. The mission aims to answer questions about the mysterious asteroid and shed light on Earth's metallic core and the genesis of our solar system. The spacecraft is set to launch in October and will embark on a 26-month observation period upon arrival at Psyche in 2029.
NASA's Psyche probe, set to study the metal-rich asteroid Psyche, is nearing its launch from Kennedy Space Center in October. The mission aims to understand the composition and formation of planets like Earth by exploring one of the rare asteroids made of metal. The probe will travel 2.5 billion miles to reach Psyche, which orbits the sun between Mars and Jupiter. Equipped with cameras, a magnetometer, and a gamma-ray spectrometer, the probe will spend 26 months studying the asteroid. The mission, in the works for 12 years, was delayed due to management issues but is now ready for its long-awaited journey.