The Psyche spacecraft, which launched nearly two years ago, is currently en route to a fascinating asteroid that shares its name. The mission aims to deepen our understanding of the origins of Earth and the building blocks of our solar system. Although the spacecraft is still several years away from achieving orbit around the asteroid Psyche, it has encountered a significant challenge with its propulsion system, prompting engineers to temporarily power off its thrusters.
NASA engineers are diligently investigating the cause of a recent decline in fuel pressure within the spacecraft’s propulsion system. This issue needs to be addressed by mid-June to ensure it does not jeopardize the mission’s trajectory. In an official update, NASA stated, “The mission team has chosen to defer thrusting while engineers work to understand the pressure decrease.”
The Psyche mission commenced its ambitious journey in October 2023, embarking on a staggering 2.2 billion-mile trek to a metal-rich asteroid located in the main asteroid belt. In May 2024, the spacecraft initiated firing its thrusters, utilizing a solar electric propulsion system that harnesses solar energy to power four electric thrusters.
On April 1, the spacecraft registered a concerning pressure drop in the line responsible for delivering xenon gas to its thrusters. The pressure fell from a stable 36 pounds per square inch (psi) to approximately 26 psi, forcing the spacecraft to automatically shut off its thrusters. Fortunately, the mission team has a window of about a month and a half to rectify this situation before trajectory adjustments become critically necessary.
As the team works to diagnose the root cause of the fuel pressure drop, they are also contemplating switching to the spacecraft's backup fuel line to enable the resumption of thruster operations. If all goes according to plan, the Psyche spacecraft is set to enter the orbit of asteroid Psyche in late July 2029, with its scientific mission commencing in August of the same year.
The mission is scheduled to conduct a flyby of Mars in spring 2026, leveraging the planet’s gravitational pull to propel itself toward the main asteroid belt located between Mars and Jupiter. The target asteroid, Psyche, measures 140 miles wide (226 kilometers) and is thought to be the stripped-down core of a shattered planetesimal—one of the essential components that helped form planets.
The Psyche mission has faced numerous challenges throughout its development. Initially slated for launch in 2022, it was delayed due to issues with the spacecraft’s flight software, which is crucial for controlling its orientation, trajectory, and communication with Earth. Just a week before its original launch date on October 5, 2023, engineers identified a potential overheating issue with the spacecraft’s thrusters, resulting in a brief postponement of the launch as the team resolved the problem.
Despite the obstacles it has faced, the Psyche mission remains a vital endeavor in the quest to understand our solar system's history and the formation of Earth. As engineers continue their work to address the current challenges, the world eagerly awaits the insights that the Psyche spacecraft will provide upon its rendezvous with the asteroid.
