NASA’s Psyche spacecraft is scheduled to fly within 2,800 miles of Mars this Friday as part of its mission to reach a rare metal-rich asteroid in the asteroid belt. The flyby will enable Psyche to use Mars’ gravitational pull to adjust its trajectory and conserve propellant, aiding the spacecraft’s six-year, 2.2-billion-mile voyage.
Launched in October 2023, Psyche aims to study an unusual asteroid believed to be composed primarily of nickel and iron. Scientists theorize that the asteroid could be the exposed core of a rocky protoplanet, offering clues about planetary core formation, including that of Earth.
Mars Flyby Maneuver and Scientific Observations
Traveling at approximately 12,333 miles per hour during the flyby, Psyche will use the planetary gravity assist to increase speed and alter its flight path toward the asteroid. While the primary objective is trajectory adjustment, the spacecraft will also gather scientific data on Mars. The mission team has already released an image of Mars taken from about 3 million miles away.
Research team members plan to create a time-lapse video from the data collected during the flyby to capture close-up views of the planet. Jim Bell from Arizona State University noted some images might show Mars without its characteristic reddish color but expects them to be visually striking nonetheless.
In addition, Psyche will test onboard instruments, including a satellite feature intended to detect objects near its future asteroid target.
Asteroid Psyche Mission Goals
After completing the Mars flyby, Psyche is expected to reach the asteroid around the end of 2029. Its mission will then focus on mapping the asteroid’s surface and analyzing its composition over approximately two years. This could provide unprecedented insight into the building blocks of planets.
Lindy Elkins-Tanton, a lead investigator for the spacecraft, emphasized that while the Mars flyby is crucial for adjusting the spacecraft’s speed and path, the additional scientific observations and instrument calibrations during this encounter are valuable bonuses for the mission.
Background
The Psyche mission is part of NASA’s wider effort to explore diverse objects in the solar system to better understand planetary formation and evolution. The metal-rich asteroid Psyche stands out because most objects in the asteroid belt are rocky or icy. Its study has the potential to shed light on planetary cores, which are otherwise inaccessible.
Sources
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