MISSION OVERVIEW
NASA’s Psyche mission launched successfully on SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket, beginning its journey to study the metal-rich asteroid 16 Psyche in the asteroid belt. The spacecraft embarked on a multi-year interplanetary voyage to investigate what scientists believe may be the exposed core of an early planetary building block. This mission represents the first time Falcon Heavy carried a NASA deep space probe beyond Earth orbit.
LAUNCH DETAILS
VEHICLE
Falcon HeavyAGENCY
SpaceXTARGET ORBIT
Heliocentric
LAUNCH PAD
LC-39ALAUNCH SITE
Kennedy Space CenterLAUNCH TIME VERIFICATION
UNKNOWN
SPACEX API
Cross-referenced with community SpaceX data
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
When is the Falcon Heavy | Psyche launch?
The Falcon Heavy | Psyche is scheduled for Friday, October 13, 2023 at 2:19 PM UTC. This is the NET (No Earlier Than) time and may be subject to change. Current status: Success.
What rocket is being used for Falcon Heavy | Psyche?
The Falcon Heavy | Psyche mission uses the Falcon Heavy rocket.
Where is the Falcon Heavy | Psyche launching from?
The launch takes place from LC-39A at Kennedy Space Center.
What orbit is Falcon Heavy | Psyche going to?
The Falcon Heavy | Psyche mission is targeting Heliocentric.
Who is launching Falcon Heavy | Psyche?
The Falcon Heavy | Psyche is operated by SpaceX.
Can I watch the Falcon Heavy | Psyche launch live?
Yes. Visit the launch detail page on Space Launch Live for embedded YouTube webcasts, replay videos, and links to live coverage from SpaceX, NASA, NASASpaceflight, and other channels.
LAUNCH TIMELINE
Mar 28, 2026 00:28 UTC
Launch added to tracker
Imported from Launch Library 2 API
Mar 28, 2026 00:28 UTC
Launch date set: Oct 13, 2023 at 14:19 UTC
NET (No Earlier Than) confirmed by SpaceX
Mar 28, 2026 00:28 UTC
Status: Success
Updated via Launch Library 2
Jan 12, 2026 09:57 UTC
Creating hallucination-free, psychedelic-like molecules by shining light on life's basic building blocksDavis CA (SPX) Jan 08, 2026 UC Davis researchers have developed a new method that uses light to transform amino acids – the building blocks…
SpaceDaily
Aug 19, 2025 15:02 UTC
NASAu2019s Psyche Captures Images of Earth, MoonHeaded for a metal-rich asteroid of the same name, the Psyche spacecraft successfully calibrated its cameras by looking homeward. On schedule for its 2029 arrival…
NASA
May 29, 2025 07:59 UTC
NASA switches to backup propellant line on Psyche spacecraftNASA has decided to switch to a backup propellant line on its Psyche asteroid mission to allow the spacecraft to resume use of its electric…
SpaceNews
Apr 30, 2025 20:52 UTC
NASA investigating problem with Psyche electric thrustersNASA is investigating a problem with the electric propulsion system on its Psyche asteroid spacecraft, but an agency official said it is not currently a…
SpaceNews
May 22, 2024 07:00 UTC
NASAu2019s Psyche Fires Up Its Sci-Fi-Worthy ThrustersThe spacecraft already is beyond the distance of Mars and is using ion propulsion to accelerate toward a metal-rich asteroid, where it will orbit and…
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Dec 9, 2023 20:29 UTC
NASAu2019s Psyche captures its u201cfirst light,u201d continues testing other instrumentsOn Dec. 4, the cameras of NASAu2019s Psyche spacecraft took their first images 26 million kilometers away from Earth. This milestone, called u201cfirst light,u201d was…
NASASpaceflight
Dec 6, 2023 22:30 UTC
NASA Psyche Captures First Light ImagesNASA's Psyche spacecraft has marked a significant milestone on its journey to explore the asteroid Psyche in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupite…
The Launch Pad
Oct 30, 2023 12:00 UTC
The Daily Telescope: A new perspective on the power behind PsycheLaunch was awesome, but now comes a painfully long wait.
Arstechnica
Oct 15, 2023 17:37 UTC
Psyche and Starlink Set Records on the Space CoastOn Friday the 13th, 2023 SpaceXu2019s Falcon Heavy beat the odds and lifted off carrying NASAu2019s Psyche spacecraft on a two billion mile trek to…
Space Scout
Oct 13, 2023 17:43 UTC
Psyche on Its Way to Metal-Rich AsteroidNASAu2019s Psyche spacecraft started a billion mile journey to an asteroid by that name between Mars and Jupiter this morning. Of all the thousands and…
SpacePolicyOnline.com
Oct 13, 2023 17:34 UTC
SpaceX Falcon Heavy aces NASAu2019s Psyche spacecraft launchSpaceXu2019s Falcon Heavy successfully launched NASAu2019s Psyche spacecraft on Friday morning, completing the second-ever interplanetary mission for the rocket, with the first…
Teslarati
Oct 13, 2023 15:44 UTC
NASA launches Psyche mission to metal worldA NASA spacecraft is finally on its way to a metallic main belt asteroid after a successful Falcon Heavy launch Oct. 13.
SpaceNews
Oct 13, 2023 10:18 UTC
Psyche marks start of NASA use of Falcon HeavyThe launch of NASAu2019s Psyche mission represents the beginning of the agencyu2019s use of SpaceXu2019s Falcon Heavy rocket, which the agency will rely upon for…
SpaceNews
Oct 12, 2023 19:26 UTC
NASA, SpaceX launch Psyche mission to metallic asteroidNASA and SpaceX teams launched the agencyu2019s Psyche mission to metallic asteroid 16 Psyche from Florida on Friday, Oct. 13. Psyche launched atop a SpaceX…
NASASpaceflight
Oct 12, 2023 17:29 UTC
Stormy Skies Keep Psyche EarthboundAfter a technical delay the previous week, NASAu2019s Psyche mission remains grounded in the face of weather constraints.
Space Scout
LIVE DATA SOURCES
Last data sync: 2 minutes ago
●Spaceflight News API8 minutes ago
15 articles matched
Mission Profile
Falcon Heavy | Psyche was a Falcon Heavy mission operated by SpaceX that lifted off from LC-39A, Kennedy Space Center on October 13, 2023. The flight carried its payload to Heliocentric.