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psyche arrival graph
Psyche Mission Timeline Image ...NASA’s Psyche spacecraft takes a spiral path to the asteroid Psyche, as depicted in this graphic that shows the path from above the plane of the... 09-11-2023
panoramic view of JPL's High Bay 2 area showing the bus (body) of the spacecraft and some engineers
Spacecraft in Integration & Test ...NASA’s Psyche spacecraft is captured here on August 18, 2021, in a clean room at the agency’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California... 08-24-2021
This image is a closeup underside view of the main body of the spacecraft (the bus) with a engineers nearby inspecting hardware.
Psyche Spacecraft ...The Solar Electric Propulsion (SEP) Chassis of NASA’s Psyche spacecraft is mounted onto a rotation fixture in High Bay 1 of the Spacecraft Assembly... 03-29-2021
Psyche Power System Engineer Ben Inouye – Behind the Spacecraft
Psyche Power System Engineer Ben Inouye – Behind the Spacecraft ...series called “Behind the Spacecraft.” Each Psyche team member will tell the story of how they came to the mission. Join us on this channel on Sept.... 09-07-2023
Psyche Solar Electric Propulsion Engineer Julie Li – Behind the Spacecraft ...will share how the Psyche team developed the solar electric propulsion hardware on the spacecraft and will take live questions from viewers. The Psyche... 09-13-2023
Psyche Electrical Engineer Luis Dominguez – Behind the Spacecraft ...Propulsion Laboratory, shows the JPL clean room where he and the assembly, test, and launch operations team are putting together and testing the spacecraft.... 09-21-2023
Psyche Spacecraft (Artist’s Concept) ...This artist’s concept, updated as of June 2020, depicts NASA’s Psyche spacecraft. Set to launch in August 2022, the Psyche mission will... 07-14-2020
This image is of the main body of the spacecraft (the bus) in a factory space surrounded by engineers.
Psyche Spacecraft ...A major component of NASA’s Psyche spacecraft has been delivered to NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, where the phase known... 03-29-2021
This image is of the main body of the spacecraft (the bus) in a factory space surrounded by engineers.
Psyche Spacecraft ...A major component of NASA’s Psyche spacecraft has been delivered to the agency’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, where the phase... 03-29-2021
An illustration, created in March 2021, of NASA’s Psyche spacecraft, which is targeted to launch to the main asteroid belt in August 2022 to investigate the metal-rich asteroid Psyche.
Psyche Spacecraft Illustration ...This illustration, updated as of March 2021, depicts NASA’s Psyche spacecraft. Set to launch in August 2022, the Psyche mission will explore a... 03-29-2021
NASA’s Psyche Spacecraft Mate to Payload Attach Fitting (PAF) ...Technicians connected NASA’s Psyche spacecraft to the payload attach fitting inside the clean room at Astrotech Space Operations facility in Titusville,... 09-25-2023
NASA’s Psyche Spacecraft Mate to Payload Attach Fitting (PAF) ...Technicians connected NASA’s Psyche spacecraft to the payload attach fitting inside the clean room at Astrotech Space Operations facility in Titusville,... 09-25-2023
#MissionToPsyche: The Science Behind the Psyche Spacecraft (News Briefing) ...The Psyche spacecraft will journey 2.2 billion miles to an asteroid that scientists hypothesize is made of substantial amounts of metal. It may contain... 10-12-2023
Engineers are analyzing the construction of the Psyche spacecraft.
Psyche Spacecraft ...The Psyche spacecraft is making progress in Maxar’s Palo Alto, California manufacturing facility. In the last few weeks, the solar electric propulsion... 10-22-2020
Two engineers are working on the body of the Psyche spacecraft.
Psyche Spacecraft ...The Psyche spacecraft is making progress in Maxar’s Palo Alto, California manufacturing facility. In the last few weeks, the solar electric propulsion... 10-22-2020
The body of the Psyche spacecraft is in progress. This image shows a black box with many wires sticking out of it and an engineer standing nearby.
Psyche Spacecraft ...The Psyche spacecraft is making progress in Maxar’s Palo Alto, California manufacturing facility. In the last few weeks, the solar electric propulsion... 10-22-2020
Scientists and engineers are working on the body of the Psyche spacecraft.
Psyche Spacecraft ...The Psyche spacecraft is making progress in Maxar’s Palo Alto, California manufacturing facility. In the last few weeks, the solar electric propulsion... 10-22-2020
The body of the Psyche spacecraft is in progress. This image shows a black box with many wires sticking out of it.
Psyche Spacecraft ...The Psyche spacecraft is making progress in Maxar’s Palo Alto, California manufacturing facility. In the last few weeks, the solar electric propulsion... 10-22-2020
Psyche Spacecraft Chassis Arrival at JPL ...A spacecraft’s journey doesn’t begin on the launchpad. Our Psyche spacecraft will explore an asteroid, but first we have to finish building it.... 03-29-2021
christina hernandez
Psyche Flight Systems Engineer Christina Hernandez – Behind the Spacecraft ...NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, talks about getting Psyche ready for launch through the spacecraft’s verification-and-validation phase and her... 08-22-2023
Mission to Psyche: One Year Into the Spacecraft’s Journey to a Metal-Rich Asteroid ...metal core and the formation of our solar system. The spacecraft will begin orbiting the asteroid Psyche in 2029. Riding along with the spacecraft is... 10-29-2024
This artist's conception shows the Psyche spacecraft against a starry background orbiting above the heavily cratered surface of the Psyche asteroid.
Artist’s Conception of Psyche spacecraft at Psyche asteroid ...This artist’s conception shows the Psyche spacecraft near the surface of the Psyche asteroid.... 01-10-2018
woman with testing devices
Psyche Power Electronics Engineer Meena Sreekantamurthy – Behind the Spacecraft ...the Spacecraft.” Each Psyche team member will tell the story of how they came to the mission. Join us on this channel on Sept. 13 and 20 for livestreamed... 08-30-2023
Psyche’s spacecraft body being tested at Maxar’s Palo Alto, California manufacturing facility.
Testing the Psyche Spacecraft Psyche’s spacecraft body being tested at Maxar’s Palo Alto, California manufacturing facility. 04-16-2020
Maxar engineers prepare the Psyche spacecraft bus for transport to NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab.
Psyche Spacecraft Prepares for Transport ...Maxar engineers prepare the Psyche spacecraft bus for transport to NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab. Credit: Maxar Technologies... 03-29-2021
Psyche Spacecraft Paper Model
Psyche Spacecraft Paper Model Assembly Downloadable video options... 12-08-2017
Scientist in a lab wearing masks while holding their thumbs up.
Thumbs-up for Ion Propulsion ...Psyche engineers adapted to COVID-19 social distancing and masking requirements while testing the Hall thrusters that will propel NASA’s Psyche... 07-14-2020
This image is of the black and silver main body of the Psyche Spacecraft. The equipment panels have been mated to Psyche’s propulsion module and technicians will soon begin installing attitude control components.
Psyche Spacecraft: Main Body Psyche’s SEP chassis is currently in main body integration in Maxar’s Palo Alto, Calif. manufacturing facility. The equipment panels have been mated... 12-01-2020
This image is of Psyche’s high gain antenna which is black and in surrounded by blue insulation.
Psyche Spacecraft: High Gain Antenna Psyche’s high gain antenna has completed fabrication and is undergoing standard testing in Maxar’s Near Field Range to verify that it will work as... 12-01-2020
Psyche’s spacecraft body being tested at Maxar’s Palo Alto, California manufacturing facility.
Psyche Spacecraft After Maxar Technologies successfully installed Psyche’s High Gain Antenna, their team moved the Psyche Solar Electric Propulsion (SEP) Chassis to the... 03-12-2021
This image is of the main body of the spacecraft (the bus) in a factory space with a technician standing nearby.
Psyche Spacecraft After Maxar Technologies successfully installed Psyche’s High Gain Antenna, their team moved the Psyche Solar Electric Propulsion (SEP) Chassis to the... 03-12-2021
This image is of the main body of the spacecraft (the bus) in a factory space.
Psyche Spacecraft After Maxar Technologies successfully installed Psyche’s High Gain Antenna, their team moved the Psyche Solar Electric Propulsion (SEP) Chassis to the... 03-12-2021
This image is of the main body of the spacecraft (the bus) in a factory space with technicians working.
Psyche Spacecraft After Maxar Technologies successfully installed Psyche’s High Gain Antenna, their team moved the Psyche Solar Electric Propulsion (SEP) Chassis to the... 03-12-2021
This image is of the main body of the spacecraft (the bus) in a factory space with technicians working.
Psyche Spacecraft After Maxar Technologies successfully installed Psyche’s High Gain Antenna, their team moved the Psyche Solar Electric Propulsion (SEP) Chassis to the... 03-12-2021
This image is of the main body of the spacecraft (the bus) in a factory space.
Psyche Spacecraft After Maxar Technologies successfully installed Psyche’s High Gain Antenna, their team moved the Psyche Solar Electric Propulsion (SEP) Chassis to the... 03-12-2021
Maxar engineers prepare the Psyche spacecraft bus for transport to NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab.
Psyche Spacecraft Prepares for Transport The Maxar team prepares the Psyche Solar Electric Propulsion (SEP) Chassis for shipment to NASA’s JPL. Credit: Maxar Technologies... 03-29-2021
Maxar engineers prepare the Psyche spacecraft bus for transport to NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab.
Psyche Spacecraft Prepares for Transport The Maxar team prepares the Psyche Solar Electric Propulsion (SEP) Chassis for shipment to NASA’s JPL. Credit: Maxar Technologies... 03-29-2021
Maxar engineers prepare the Psyche spacecraft bus for transport to NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab.
Psyche Spacecraft Prepares for Transport The Maxar team prepares the Psyche Solar Electric Propulsion (SEP) Chassis for shipment to NASA’s JPL. Credit: Maxar Technologies... 03-29-2021
Maxar engineers prepare the Psyche spacecraft bus for transport to NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab.
Psyche Spacecraft Prepares for Transport The Maxar team prepares the Psyche Solar Electric Propulsion (SEP) Chassis for shipment to NASA’s JPL. Credit: Maxar Technologies... 03-29-2021
Two thrusters are visible beneath red round protective covers, after being integrated into the spacecraft.
Psyche Thrusters: Integration Complete ...NASA’s Psyche spacecraft is photographed in July 2021 during the mission’s assembly, test, and launch operations phase at the agency’s... 09-20-2021
NASA’s Psyche: Picking up Launch Prep for 2023 ...NASA’s Psyche spacecraft is shown in a clean room on Dec. 8, 2022, at Astrotech Space Operations Facility near the agency’s Kennedy Space... 01-24-2023
Engineers at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California prepare to integrate four Hall thrusters (beneath red protective covers) into the agency's Psyche spacecraft in July 2021.
Preparing Psyche’s Thruster Installation ...Engineers at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California prepare to integrate four Hall thrusters (beneath red protective covers)... 09-20-2021
Engineers at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California work to integrate Hall thrusters into the agency's Psyche spacecraft in this July 2021 photo. One of the thrusters is visible on the side of the spacecraft beneath a red protective cover. Psyche is set to launch in August 2022 and will travel to its target, a metal-rich asteroid also named Psyche, under the power of solar electric propulsion. This super-efficient mode of propulsion uses solar arrays to capture sunlight that is converted into electricity to power the spacecraft's Hall thrusters. They work by turning xenon gas, a neutral gas used in car headlights and plasma TVs, into xenon ions. As the xenon ions are accelerated out of the thruster, they create the thrust that will propel the spacecraft. This will be the first use of Hall thrusters beyond lunar orbit, demonstrating that they could play a role in supporting future deep space missions. Arizona State University in Tempe leads the Psyche mission. JPL is responsible for the mission's overall management, system engineering, integration and test, and mission operations. Maxar Technologies in Palo Alto, California, supplied the thrusters and built the high-power solar electric propulsion spacecraft chassis. For more information about NASA's Psyche mission, go to: http://www.nasa.gov/psyche or https://psyche.ssl.berkeley.edu/
Psyche’s Thruster Integration Underway ...Engineers at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California work to integrate Hall thrusters into the agency’s Psyche spacecraft... 09-20-2021
Orbiting Asteroid Psyche (Illustration) ...This illustration shows how NASA’s Psyche spacecraft will explore the asteroid Psyche, beginning with Orbit A when it arrives at the asteroid... 12-20-2021
orbital operations graph
Psyche Orbital Operations ...NASA’s Psyche spacecraft will gather science at the asteroid Psyche at four orbit altitudes, as depicted in this graphic. It has been updated... 09-11-2023
NASA’s Psyche Images Stars, Jovian System ...NASA’s Psyche spacecraft captured multiple star and planet images in late January 2025 that include notable appearances by Mars, Jupiter, and... 03-05-2025
NASA’s Psyche Gets Its Huge Solar Arrays Permanently Installed ...The solar arrays for NASA’s Psyche mission underwent a final deployment test and were permanently installed on the spacecraft at Astrotech Space Operations... 08-03-2023
Thumbnail illustration showing asteroid and spacecraft.
Imaging a Metal World ...NASA’s Psyche spacecraft will use highly sensitive cameras to allow scientists to see a metal-rich asteroid that’s never been imaged up close before.... 09-28-2023
Thumbnail image showing the Psyche spacecraft communicating with Earth via the Deep Space Optical Communications laser.
Testing Space Lasers for Deep Space Optical Communications ...– from robotic spacecraft and from future astronauts exploring Mars. DSOC is attached to NASA’s Psyche spacecraft and will send and receive signals... 09-28-2023
Psyche Mission Launches From Kennedy Space Center (Highlights) ...Highlights from the Oct. 13, 2023, launch of NASA’s Psyche spacecraft, which will travel 2.2 billion miles to a metal-rich asteroid in the main asteroid... 10-13-2023
ascent timeline
Psyche Launch Ascent Timeline ...This graphic shows the expected timeline of milestones immediately following liftoff for NASA’s Psyche spacecraft if Psyche launches at the beginning... 09-11-2023
Psyche Encapsulation ...Technicians encapsulate NASA’s Psyche spacecraft in its payload fairings – the cone at the top of the rocket – at the Astrotech Space Operations... 10-11-2023
Psyche Encapsulation ...Technicians encapsulate NASA’s Psyche spacecraft in its payload fairings – the cone at the top of the rocket – at the Astrotech Space Operations... 10-11-2023
Psyche Encapsulation ...Technicians encapsulate NASA’s Psyche spacecraft in its payload fairings – the cone at the top of the rocket – at the Astrotech Space Operations... 10-11-2023
Meet the NASA Psyche team who will map Psyche’s elemental composition ...Meet the team designing and building the Psyche mission’s gamma-ray and neutron spectrometer. This instrument on the spacecraft will detect, measure,... 07-07-2020
Meet NASA’s Psyche Team Who Will Measure the Asteroid’s Magnetic Field ...end of a 6-foot (2-meter) boom on the spacecraft. The magnetometer team is based at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Technical University... 06-30-2021
NASA Psyche Mission: Charting a Metallic World ...launches in 2022 and will arrive at the asteroid Psyche, which orbits the Sun between Mars and Jupiter, in 2026. The spacecraft, also named Psyche,... 09-08-2021
Thumbnail illustration showing asteroid and spacecraft and Earth with a radio antenna
Using Gravity to Study an Asteroid ...and forth between the spacecraft and Earth, the team can precisely determine the asteroid’s mass, gravity field, rotation, orientation, and wobble.... 09-28-2023
Psyche Launches to a Metal Asteroid (Official NASA Broadcast) ...Watch the Psyche spacecraft launch from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket. NASA and SpaceX are now targeting... 10-13-2023
Engineers at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Maryland, make progress on the spectrometer for NASA's Psyche spacecraft, while observing COVID-19 safety procedures.
Psyche’s Spectrometer ...Sam Fix work on the Gamma-Ray/Neutron Spectrometer (GRNS) instrument that will launch aboard the Psyche spacecraft in 2022 to detect, measure and map... 07-14-2020
A technician prepares to integrate part of the electric propulsion system onto the main body of NASA's Psyche spacecraft at Maxar Technologies in Palo Alto, California.
Psyche in Progress ...The main body of NASA’s Psyche spacecraft, called the Solar Electric Propulsion (SEP) Chassis, is in a clean room at Maxar Technologies in Palo... 07-14-2020
Psyche Transport from Astrotech to LC 39A ...Teams transport NASA’s encapsulated Psyche spacecraft from the Astrotech Space Operations Facility in Titusville to Launch Pad 39A at Kennedy... 10-11-2023
Psyche Launch ...A SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket with the Psyche spacecraft onboard is launched from Launch Complex 39A, Friday, Oct. 13, 2023, at NASA’s Kennedy Space... 11-02-2023
Psyche Liftoff ...NASA’s Psyche spacecraft, atop a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket, lifts off from Kennedy Space Center’s historic Launch Complex 39A in Florida at 10:19... 11-02-2023
Launch Complex 39A ...A SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket with the Psyche spacecraft onboard is seen at Launch Complex 39A as preparations continue for the Psyche mission, Wednesday,... 11-02-2023
starfield image
First Images From NASA’s Psyche ...This mosaic was made from “first light” images acquired by both of the cameras on NASA’s Psyche spacecraft on Dec. 4, 2023. The field... 12-05-2023
NASA Psyche Online Courses ...While the spacecraft and instruments of the NASA Psyche Mission are being designed and built in preparation for launch to the Psyche asteroid in 2022,... 01-25-2020
Thumbnail showing the illustration of the asteroid and spacecraft and the words Psyche #MissionToPsyche
NASA’s Psyche Mission to an Asteroid: Official NASA Trailer ...the mission’s overall management, system engineering, integration and test, and mission operations. Maxar Technologies in Palo Alto, California, provided... 07-18-2023
psyche team
New Video Series Reveals What Drives NASA’s Psyche Mission Team ...answers are wide-ranging but share a common thread: a passion to explore the unknown. That inspiration is highlighted in the new “Behind the Spacecraft”... 08-21-2023
This artist's conception shows the Psyche asteroid.
Hypothesized Surface Features: Psyche Asteroid Illustration ...molten state, forming yellow and orange lava fields; and craters into metal might have sharper edges and different textures in their bowls than craters... 10-16-2018
This artist's conception shows a close-up of the Psyche asteroid. Image Credit: Peter Rubin
Regions of Iron-Nickel Metal and Olivine: Psyche Asteroid Illustration ...Once the spacecraft reaches the asteroid, we will find out whether our hypotheses are right, and work on solving the question of how the asteroid formed.... 02-05-2018
This artist's conception shows a close-up of the heavily cratered surface of the Psyche asteroid.
Psyche Close-up This artist’s conception shows a close-up of the surface of the Psyche asteroid.... 01-10-2018
An illustration depicting the target of NASA’s Psyche mission: the metal-rich asteroid Psyche, in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.
Small-Scale Mix of Rock and Metal: Psyche Asteroid Illustration ...same name. The Psyche spacecraft is set to launch in August 2022 and arrive at the asteroid in 2026, where it will orbit for 21 months and investigate... 03-29-2021
Large Regions of Rock and Metal: Psyche Asteroid Illustration ...same name. The Psyche spacecraft is set to launch in August 2022 and arrive at the asteroid in 2026, where it will orbit for 21 months and investigate... 03-29-2021
panoramic view of JPL's High Bay 2 area filled with technical equipment and some engineers
DSOC in High Bay 2 ...The Deep Space Optical Communications (DSOC) technology demonstration arrived at JPL’s High Bay 2 in preparation for integration onto the Psyche... 06-22-2021