← ALL PROBES
DISTANCE FROM SUN1.4884 AU
DISTANCE FROM EARTH2.0543 AU
VELOCITY27.663 km/s
LIGHT TIME17 min
ACTIVE
UPDATED1h ago
1.4884
AU FROM SUN
DISTANCE
222,661,471 km
99,587
KM/H
VELOCITY
2 years, 301 days
MISSION DURATION
AND COUNTING
17
MINUTES LIGHT TIME
ONE-WAY SIGNAL DELAY
2,747
KG
LAUNCH MASS
2
TARGETS
Mars, Asteroid 16 Psyche
Psyche is a orbiter mission by NASA / JPL targeting Asteroid 16 Psyche. Launched October 13, 2023. Currently 1.4884 AU from the Sun.
ABOUT PSYCHE
Psyche is heading to asteroid 16 Psyche, a unique metal-rich body that may be the exposed core of an early planet. The mission will help us understand the building blocks of planet formation. It also carries DSOC, NASA’s first deep space optical communications experiment, which successfully transmitted data via laser over interplanetary distances.
KEY DISCOVERIES
- DSOC successfully transmitted data via laser from 226 million miles
TECHNOLOGY & FIRSTS
- First mission to a metal-rich asteroid
- DSOC: first deep space laser communications demonstration
- Uses Hall-effect thrusters for main propulsion
SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS (5)
Multispectral Imager
Gamma-Ray/Neutron Spectrometer
Magnetometer
X-band radio (gravity science)
DSOC (Deep Space Optical Communications)
SPACECRAFT SPECIFICATIONS
Launch Mass2,747 kg (6,057 lbs)
PowerSolar panels (75 m²)
PropulsionSolar-electric (Hall-effect thrusters, SPT-140)
Launch VehicleFalcon Heavy
Launch DateOctober 13, 2023
Arrival DateAugust 1, 2029
ProgramDiscovery
MISSION TRAJECTORY
1
Mars
2
Asteroid 16 Psyche
LAUNCH HISTORY
🚀 LAUNCH MISSION