This artist ’s concept render NASA ’s Psyche ballistic capsule headed to the metallic element - rich asteroid Psyche in the primary asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter . The spacecraft launched in October 2023 and will arrive at its destination in 2029.NASA / JPL - Caltech / ASU
NASA ’s Psyche missionary station is on its room to visit astrange alloy asteroidlocated in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter , and it recently kicked on its aristocratical - beam electrical thrusters to express it on the next leg of its journeying .
The galvanising thrusters are solar powered , and expend ionise atomic number 54 for actuation . These kind of pusher are n’t muscular like the chemical actuation system used by rocket to escape Earth ’s ambience , for example , but are alternatively exceedingly effective . They produce only a very small amount of thrust , but in the vacuum cleaner of space there is n’t any retarding force to overcome so the spacecraft can keep gradually increase in swiftness . For distance locomotion beyond Earth ’s reach , the challenge is less about having brawny engines and more about conserve fuel .
This artist’s concept depicts NASA’s Psyche spacecraft headed to the metal-rich asteroid Psyche in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. The spacecraft launched in October 2023 and will arrive at its destination in 2029.NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU
The engine on Psyche , scream Hall thrusters , could go continuously for years before using up all of the 2,030 pounds ( 922 kilograms ) of xenon fuel the spacecraft hold . Regular chemical thruster would use fuel at around 15 prison term that rate . The Xe fuel creates a grim glow from the thruster as the atom become ionise by the thrusters ’ electromagnetic fields , power by the space vehicle ’s solar panels .
Psyche is already located beyond the celestial orbit of Mars , but it require to travel back around to make a Mars sombreness assist maneuver in 2026 . That will help promote the spacecraft on its way to come across Psyche in 2029 . presently , the spacecraft is traveling at around 84,000 miles per hour ( 135,000 kph ) , but with the help of its thrusters it will accelerate up to around 124,000 mph ( 200,000 kph ) .
With the space vehicle ’s first 100 days in space complete , it will now be operating in full cruise mode on its way to its destination .
“ Until this point , we have been powering on and checking out the various opus of equipment needed to nail the mission , and we can report they are working beautifully , ” said Henry Stone , Psyche project manager at NASA ’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory , in astatement . “ Now we are on our way of life and face forward to an upcoming close flyby of Mars . ”
