Why will NASA launch a spacecraft to the metallic asteroid Psyche in October?
NASA is launching a spacecraft to the asteroid Psyche this month. Exploring the asteroid could provide information about how Earth and other planets formed.
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has postponed to October 12 the launch of its Psyche mission from the Kennedy Space Center, in Florida, bound for the metallic asteroid of the same name.
NASA made this decision to have more time to complete the verification of the parameters used to correctly and adequately control the cold nitrogen gas thrusters of the Psyche spacecraft.
Orienting the Psyche spacecraft
These thrusters are used, among many other things, to orient the vehicle in support of scientific, energy, thermal and other demands, such as the proper orientation of the spacecraft and the management of the impulse.
“The parameters were recently adjusted in response to updated predictions of warmer temperatures for these thrusters. Operating the thrusters within temperature limits is essential to ensure the long-term health of the units,” NASA explained in a statement.
READ ALSO: Which European countries are not part of NATO?
What do verification activities entail?
Verification activities involve re-running simulations and specifying the necessary adjustments to flight parameters and procedures. The launch of Psyche, initially scheduled for 2022, was postponed due to problems in the navigation software.
The ship will fly aboard a Falcon Heavy rocket from Space X. Psyche's target is an intriguing metal-rich asteroid of the same name, orbiting the Sun in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.
READ ALSO: Why Israel is not a member of NATO but can count on their support
The mission’s main goal
Unlike rocky or icy asteroids, scientists think Psyche is composed primarily of iron and nickel and could be the heart of a primitive planet that lost its outer layers. Exploring the asteroid Psyche could provide valuable information about how the Earth and other planets formed.
The Psyche spacecraft will use a magnetometer to detect a potential magnetic field. If the asteroid has one, it is a strong indicator that it was once the core of a primitive planet. Additionally, a multispectral imager will capture images of the surface, as well as gather information about the asteroid’s composition and topography. The spectrometers will also study neutrons and gamma rays coming from the surface to reveal the elements that make up the space object.