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Solar Electric Propulsion

All articles tagged with #solar electric propulsion

space1 hour ago•11 min saved

Mercury’s capture paradox: BepiColombo’s gravity-assisted march to orbit

Mercury’s strong solar gravity makes orbital capture energy-intensive; a direct trip to Mercury would require enormous propellant, so BepiColombo used an eight-year path of gravity assists (nine flybys across Earth, Venus and Mercury) plus solar-electric propulsion to gradually shed energy and enable Mercury orbit insertion in November 2026. After arrival, two science orbiters will study Mercury’s environment, showing that stopping in the inner Solar System can be harder than simply getting there.

via Space Daily|

#bepicolombo #gravity-assist #mercury

space26 days ago•14 min saved

Psyche's Mars slingshot primes a path to a metal-rich asteroid

NASA's Psyche spacecraft used a May 2026 Mars gravity assist, flying about 2,864 miles above the planet to gain roughly 1,000 mph and tilt its solar-orbit trajectory toward the metal-rich asteroid 16 Psyche; the maneuver saves propellant and treats Mars as a stepping stone rather than a destination, while the mission relies on long-duration solar-electric propulsion toward a 2029 arrival.

via Space Daily|

#gravity-assist #mars-flyby #psyche-16-asteroid

space2 months ago•6 min saved

Psyche Mission Uses Mars Flyby to Target Metal-Rich Asteroid

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.

via NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) (.gov)|

#gravity-assist #mars-flyby #metal-rich-asteroid

space2 months ago•73 min saved

Psyche uses Mars as a gravity boost on its way to a metal-rich asteroid

NASA's Psyche spacecraft flew by Mars on May 15, 2026 to perform a gravity assist, gaining speed and reshaping its path toward the metal-rich asteroid 16 Psyche. The flyby occurred about 2,800 miles from Mars at roughly 12,333 mph and saves propellant by using the planet's gravity, helping the mission stay on track to reach 16 Psyche in July 2029, while continuing to rely on solar-electric propulsion for gradual thrust.

via Space|

#16-psyche #gravity-assist #mars-flyby

science2 months ago•3 min saved

NASA's Psyche Prepares Mars Slingshot to Reach Metal-Rich Asteroid

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.

via ScienceAlert|

#mars-gravity-assist #metal-rich-asteroid #nasa-psyche-mission

space3 months ago•0 min saved

Mars Flyby Boosts NASA’s Psyche Mission Toward a Metal-R-rich World

NASA’s Psyche spacecraft will perform a Mars gravity assist on May 15, passing about 2,800 miles above the planet at roughly 12,333 mph to boost its trajectory toward the metal-rich asteroid 16 Psyche. Launched Oct 13, 2023, the mission uses solar-electric propulsion with xenon propellant, and the gravity assist helps save propellant while also calibrating science instruments for the upcoming encounter.

via NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) (.gov)|

#gravity-assist #mars-gravity-assist #psyche-mission

space-exploration2 years ago•3 min saved

NASA's Psyche Spacecraft Activates Futuristic Thrusters for Asteroid Mission

via Space.com|

#asteroid-16-psyche #ion-thrusters #nasa

space-exploration2 years ago•3 min saved

"Psyche Spacecraft Activates Ion Thrusters for Asteroid Mission"

NASA's Psyche spacecraft, launched on October 13, 2023, has activated its ion thrusters and is now cruising through space using solar-electric propulsion. The mission aims to reach the metal-rich asteroid 16 Psyche by 2029, after a gravity assist from Mars in 2026. The spacecraft's ion engines, powered by solar arrays, will propel it to speeds up to 124,000 miles per hour. The mission seeks to study the asteroid's composition to gain insights into the formation of rocky planets. Psyche is also testing new deep-space optical communications technology.

via Yahoo! Voices|

#asteroid-16-psyche #ion-thrusters #nasa

space2 years ago•1 min saved

Lunar Gateway's Solar Electric Propulsion Engine Aces Qualification Tests

NASA's Advanced Electric Propulsion System (AEPS), a solar electric propulsion system that uses xenon as propellant, has passed qualification tests and will be integrated into the Lunar Gateway. Originally designed for the now-cancelled AARM mission, AEPS will serve as the primary propulsion method for deep space and cargo missions, supporting the Artemis program's goal of landing astronauts on the Moon. The AEPS thrusters will be mounted on the Power and Propulsion Element (PPE) of the Lunar Gateway, set to launch in November 2025.

via Hackaday|

#advanced-electric-propulsion-system #artemis-program #lunar-gateway

space-exploration3 years ago•5 min saved

NASA's Upcoming Mission to Uncover the Secrets of a Metal Asteroid

NASA is preparing to launch the Psyche spacecraft on October 5th to study the asteroid 16 Psyche, which is believed to be the partial core of a "planetesimal." By studying this metal asteroid, NASA hopes to gain insights into Earth's core and potentially discover clues about habitability and the search for extraterrestrial life. The mission will also test new communication and propulsion systems, including the use of optical communications and solar electric propulsion. The spacecraft is expected to arrive at its destination in 2026 and spend 26 months orbiting 16 Psyche to gather data and determine if it is indeed a planetary core.

via Big Think|

#asteroid #core #nasa

science-and-exploration3 years ago•6 min saved

BepiColombo set for third Mercury flyby.

The BepiColombo mission is preparing for its third flyby of Mercury on June 19, which will help the spacecraft fight against the enormous gravitational pull of the Sun. The flyby will take place at an altitude of about 236 km and will be used to guide BepiColombo's path through the inner Solar System. The mission will enter a challenging part of its journey to Mercury after this flyby, gradually increasing the use of solar electric propulsion through additional propulsion periods called 'thrust arcs'. The flyby will provide a glimpse of the Mercury science expected during the main mission.

via European Space Agency|

#bepicolombo #flyby #gravity-assist