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NASA Psyche Probe
NASA JPL / Maxar · Metal Asteroid (16 Psyche) Orbital Science Probe · USA · Digital Age (2010–present)
Photo: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Arizona State Univ./Space Systems Loral/Peter Rubin · Public domainOpen in interactive gallery →
Psyche is a NASA Discovery Program space mission launched on October 13, 2023, to explore the origin of planetary cores by orbiting and studying the metallic asteroid 16 Psyche beginning in 2029. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) manages the project.
Specifications
Category
Space
Sub-Category
Space Probe
Domain
Civil
Era
Digital Age (2010–present)
Country
USA
Manufacturer
NASA JPL / Maxar
Operator
NASA
Primary Role
Metal Asteroid (16 Psyche) Orbital Science Probe
Status
Active
Service Entry
2023
Propulsion
Electric
Engine
4× SPT-140 Hall-effect xenon ion thrusters (solar-electric)