NASA has successfully launched the Psyche spacecraft aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from Launch Pad 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 10:19 am EDT. Once the rocket’s second stage climbed to a high-enough altitude, the fairings separated from the rocket and returned safely to Earth.
When the spacecraft starts orbiting the metal-rich, 173-mile-wide (279-kilometer-wide) asteroid in 2029, we’ll find out if the asteroid is actually the partial core of a planetesimal, a building block of an early planet. If all goes as planned, the spacecraft will perform a 26-month science investigation. During its 2.2-billion-mile (3.6-billion-kilometer) journey to the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, Psyche will rely on solar electric propulsion.
- Feed a passion for science and technology – Kids can learn more about the challenges of space exploration with this LEGO Technic NASA Mars Rover...
- Conduct a test flight – This advanced building kit for kids ages 10 and up includes a buildable toy version of NASA’s Ingenuity helicopter, which...
- AR brings the mission to life – The accompanying augmented reality app experience lets kids dive into the details of the rover and its mission
Congratulations to the Psyche team on a successful launch, the first journey to a metal-rich asteroid. The Psyche mission could provide humanity with new information about planet formation while testing technology that can be used on future NASA missions. As Asteroid Autumn continues, so does NASA’s commitment to exploring the unknown and inspiring the world through discovery,” said Bill Nelson, NASA Administrator.
