This artist’s concept depicts the 140-mile-wide (226-kilometer-wide) asteroid Psyche, which lies in … [+]
October 2023 is set to be quite the month for space fans, with a stunning ‘ring of fire’ annular solar eclipse in North America. However, on NASA’s launch schedule is the Psyche mission to uncover a metal-rich asteroid of the same name.
Originally scheduled to launch in September 2022, Psyche was scrubbed last year after delays in development and testing of its flight software. A November 2022 report by an independent review board led by retired aerospace executive A. Thomas Young also blamed institutional issues at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) that contributed to the launch delay.
‘Go’ For Launch
However, a new report by the same board has good news—the new, rejigged mission has addressed its issues and is go for launch!
“The independent review board is extraordinarily impressed by the accomplishments of the total JPL organization and Caltech,” the report reads. “Engagement in and leadership of the overall response process by the JPL director and senior leadership is deemed ‘world class.’”
Members of the media view the Psyche spacecraft.
The Psyche Mystery
Located in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, Psyche is 140 miles/226 kilometers wide, rotates on its side and, according to its reflectivity, appears to be made largely of iron, nickel or gold. As such, planetary scientists think it could be a rare example of the core of a planet exposed to space in a cataclysmic collision.
It’s even been said that Psyche could be technically worth $10,000 quadrillion. That’s way more than the global economy, which is worth about $105 trillion in 2023 according to Statista.
Latest Launch Plans
Psyche is now due to launch from Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Complex 39A in Florida atop a SpaceX Falcon Heavy between Oct. 5-25, 2023, conduct a flyby of Mars for a gravity assist and arrive at the asteroid in August 2029. It will then spend 26 months in orbit, making observations from different altitudes.
Now in an Astrotech Space Operations Facility near Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the spacecraft twill this month begin its final assembly, test and launch operations.
Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.
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Jessica Irvine is a tech enthusiast specializing in gadgets. From smart home devices to cutting-edge electronics, Jessica explores the world of consumer tech, offering readers comprehensive reviews, hands-on experiences, and expert insights into the coolest and most innovative gadgets on the market.
