Nasa has delayed its Psyche asteroid mission by one week. The $1.2 billion mission will study the asteroids of the same name, found between Mars and Jupiter.
The Psyche asteroid mission was scheduled for 5 October initially. However, the now the Mission Psyche will launch atop the SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket on 12 October, according to a report by Space.com.
The delay in the launch will allow NASA’s team to complete verification of the parametres used to control the Psyche spacecraft’s nitrogen cold gas thrusters.
Also read: NASA releases new mosaic of Moon’s Shackleton Crater, offers closer look of lunar South Pole
The parametres were adjusted in response to updated warmer temperature predictions for these thrusters.
(Exciting news! Mint is now on WhatsApp Channel. Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest financial insights! Click here!)
The change in schedule was announced the same day when NASA, SpaceX, and Psyche mission managers conducted a flight readiness review at the Kennedy Space Centre. During the meeting, an agreement was given to perform a “static fire” of the Falcon Heavy on 29 September.
As per the Space.com static fires are standard prelaunch tests, in which a rocket’s first-stage engines are fired briefly while the vehicle remains anchored to the ground.
Also read: NASA’s craft carrying largest-ever samples of asteroid Bennu lands on back on Earth
Psyche will be the first NASA mission for the Falcon Heavy. It is the second-most powerful rocket currently in operation after NASA’s Space Launch System.
Psyche Mission:
The Psyche asteroids are located between Mars and Jupiter. The Psyche asteroid belt is 140 miles/226 kilometers wide. Some reports suggested that it is largely made up of iron, nickel, or gold.
According to a Greek reporter, Psyche was discovered by Italian astronomer Annibale de Gasparis on March 17, 1852. The report mentioned that Psyche asteroids are not usual asteroids that are often made of rock/ice. The Psyche asteroid contains solid metal. Psyche contains large amounts of platinum, gold, iron, and nickel, the report said.
The Psyche Mission will be launched on 12 October. If all goes according to plan, the spacecraft will arrive at the 170-mile-wide (280 kilometers) space rock Psyche, which resides in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, in 2029.
According to the scientists, Psyche may expose the core of a protoplanet.
“Exciting news! Mint is now on WhatsApp Channels 🚀 Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest financial insights!” Click here!
Download The Mint News App to get Daily Market Updates.
Updated: 02 Oct 2023, 10:05 AM IST