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Psyche spacecraft

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description Psyche spacecraft Overview

The Psyche spacecraft is a NASA orbiter launched in October 2023 aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket, intended to study the metallic asteroid 16 Psyche. Upon its expected arrival in 2029, the spacecraft will enter orbit around the asteroid, which is hypothesized to be the exposed core of an early planetesimal. The mission aims to improve understanding of planetary core formation by mapping the asteroid's surface composition and measuring its magnetic field.

help Psyche spacecraft FAQ

When was NASA's Psyche spacecraft launched?

NASA's Psyche spacecraft launched on October 13, 2023. SpaceX launched it from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center aboard a Falcon Heavy.

What asteroid will the Psyche spacecraft study?

The spacecraft will orbit the metallic asteroid 16 Psyche, which lies in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. NASA selected the mission to investigate whether the asteroid could resemble the exposed metal core of an early planet.

When is Psyche expected to reach 16 Psyche?

The spacecraft is expected to arrive in 2029, with science operations planned after it enters orbit. The mission uses a long interplanetary trajectory rather than a direct trip from Earth.

Will the Psyche mission bring asteroid samples back to Earth?

No. Psyche is an orbiter mission that will study 16 Psyche remotely using instruments such as cameras, spectrometers, and a magnetometer. It is not designed as a sample-return mission like OSIRIS-REx.

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