NASA’s Psyche spacecraft has resumed full-time propulsion as of June 16, after a successful switch to a backup xenon propellant line resolved a months-long issue with its primary propulsion system. The spacecraft, launched in October 2023, is en route to its namesake target — the asteroid Psyche — a metal-rich body believed to be the exposed core of a protoplanet.
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.
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU
The resumption of electric thruster operations marks a critical milestone for the mission. Engineers at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Southern California had paused all four thrusters in early April after detecting an unexpected drop in pressure in the primary xenon line. Following weeks of diagnostics and testing, the anomaly was traced to a potentially malfunctioning valve within the primary line.
Rather than risk further delays, the team activated an identical backup propellant line in late May. Since then, the propulsion system has returned to normal performance, allowing the spacecraft to continue building momentum with its ion thrusters.
“The mission team’s dedication and systematic approach to this investigation exemplifies the best of NASA engineering,” said Bob Mase, Psyche project manager at JPL. “Their thorough diagnosis and recovery, using the backup system, demonstrates the value of robust spacecraft design and exceptional teamwork.”
Over the next several months, the thrusters will be operated for the equivalent of three continuous months, gradually adjusting the spacecraft’s trajectory. This precise maneuvering is essential to ensure Psyche remains on course for a gravity-assist flyby of Mars in May 2026. The flyby will use the Red Planet’s gravitational pull to slingshot the spacecraft further into the asteroid belt.
Psyche uses solar electric propulsion, which relies on ionized xenon gas expelled at high velocity to create a steady, gentle push. This efficient system allows the spacecraft to travel vast distances using minimal fuel.
Despite the temporary pause in propulsion, mission planners confirm that Psyche remains on schedule for its primary mission: a rendezvous with the asteroid Psyche in August 2029. Orbiting this unique body — located in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter — could offer unprecedented insight into the building blocks of planetary cores and the early solar system.
NASA's Psyche mission is part of the agency's Discovery Program, managed by JPL and led by Arizona State University. It marks the first mission to investigate a metal-rich asteroid, potentially composed of nickel and iron, similar to Earth's inner core — offering a rare opportunity to study material that would otherwise be inaccessible.
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