NASA Spacecraft Runs Into Thruster Trouble En Route to Zillion-Dollar Asteroid

Published: Thursday, May 1, 2025 at 7:17 pm

NASA's Psyche Mission Hits a Minor Snag on the Way to a Metal-Rich Asteroid

NASA's ambitious Psyche mission, destined for a potentially trillion-dollar asteroid, has encountered a minor hiccup. The spacecraft, launched in October 2023, is currently experiencing a drop in fuel pressure within its electric propulsion system, causing its thrusters to temporarily shut down. Engineers are investigating the issue, which involves a pressure decrease in the xenon gas fuel line.

The mission team has paused thrusting while they troubleshoot the problem, with the option to switch to a backup fuel line if needed. NASA assures the public that this type of issue is common in space missions and that the mission design allows for a pause without significantly impacting its trajectory.

The Psyche spacecraft, equipped with massive solar panels, is designed to study the metal-rich asteroid 16 Psyche, located between Mars and Jupiter. This asteroid is believed to be composed primarily of metal, potentially making it worth an astronomical sum. The mission aims to map the asteroid's surface and determine its composition, providing valuable insights into the formation of planets. The spacecraft is scheduled to arrive at the asteroid in 2029.

Keywords: NASA, Psyche mission, asteroid, thruster trouble, fuel pressure, electric propulsion, xenon gas, 16 Psyche, metal-rich asteroid, space mission, solar panels, planetary science, asteroid mining, spacecraft, Mars, Jupiter.

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