Science & Tech · Space · 8 hrs ago
NASA’s Psyche spacecraft begins near-continuous thrust toward an asteroid
NASA’s Psyche spacecraft is using near-continuous thrust as it travels toward a metal-rich asteroid in the main asteroid belt.
Its four Hall-effect engines push out charged xenon atoms, producing a force about as strong as the weight of an AA battery.
The engines are expected to run nearly 90 percent of the time, with pauses for engineering work and weekly contact with mission controllers.
This steady push builds speed over time, and Psyche could travel at more than 100,000 miles per hour during its cruise.
Solar panels power the engines, while the spacecraft carries xenon fuel for the journey and two years of planned science at the asteroid.
A gravity assist from Mars in May changed Psyche’s path and increased its speed without using fuel.
Psyche is expected to reach the asteroid by summer 2029, where it will begin studying it.
NASA’s Psyche spacecraft has begun using nearly continuous thrust on its journey to a metal-rich asteroid.
Its Hall-effect thrusters push out xenon ions, using sunlight-generated electricity to provide a gentle but steady acceleration.
Psyche switched to nearly constant thrust on Sept. 28 and is expected to reach the asteroid in the summer of 2029.
The spacecraft passed within 2,864 miles of Mars in May, gaining speed and changing course slightly through the planet’s gravity.
The mission team says the thrusters will operate nearly 90 percent of the time, with weekly pauses to contact controllers on Earth.
- Who
- NASA’s Psyche spacecraft and its mission team.
- What
- The spacecraft has begun using nearly continuous thrust on its journey to an asteroid.
- When
- It switched to nearly constant thrust on Sept. 28. It is expected to reach the asteroid in the summer of 2029.
- Where
- It is travelling to the metal-rich asteroid Psyche in the main asteroid belt.
- Why
- Continuous thrust is intended to carry the spacecraft to the asteroid.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Psyche launched, and the mission team used its thrusters on and off to guide it toward Mars.
Psyche passed within 2,864 miles of Mars, whose gravity increased its speed and slightly changed its path.
Psyche switched to nearly constant thrust.
Psyche is expected to reach the asteroid.
- Thrust operation
- Nearly 90 percent of the time
- Asteroid arrival
- Summer 2029
- Mars flyby distance
- 2,864 miles (4,609 kilometers)
- Thrusters
- Four Hall-effect thrusters; one fires at a time
- Xenon supply
- Nearly 2,400 pounds (1,090 kilograms) at launch
What people are saying
It’s now ‘pedal to the metal’ to the asteroid Psyche
We will be running our propulsion system at every available opportunity, pausing only for necessary engineering activities. The thrusters will be operating nearly 90 percent of the time from now until we reach the asteroid.