Abstract
The Psyche mission began development in January 2017 when it was selected by NASA as the 14th Discovery Class mission. Having successfully completed its critical design review, the spacecraft is being assembled by MAXAR and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory under the leadership of the PI, Linda Elkins-Tanton, at Arizona State University. The mission plans to explore for the first time the main-belt asteroid (16) Psyche. Launch is planned for August 2022 leading to rendezvous with Psyche in early 2026.
Early radar [1] and spectroscopic measurements [2] of Psyche indicated a metallic composition leading to speculation that Psyche was the remnant core of a larger differentiated asteroid. Continued observing over decades has resulted in varying estimates for key physical parameters. Current expectations are that Psyche is a mix of rock and metal and that a complete understanding of its composition and origin awaits closer inspection by the Psyche science instruments [3]. The mission concept is designed to distinguish between the range of possible compositions. The science objectives of the Psyche mission are to:
1. Determine whether Psyche is a core, or if it is unmelted material.
2. Determine the relative ages of regions of its surface.
3. Determine whether small metal bodies incorporate the same light elements as are expected in the Earth’s high-pressure core.
4. Determine whether Psyche was formed under conditions more oxidizing or more reducing than Earth’s core.
5. Characterize Psyche’s topography.
Early radar [1] and spectroscopic measurements [2] of Psyche indicated a metallic composition leading to speculation that Psyche was the remnant core of a larger differentiated asteroid. Continued observing over decades has resulted in varying estimates for key physical parameters. Current expectations are that Psyche is a mix of rock and metal and that a complete understanding of its composition and origin awaits closer inspection by the Psyche science instruments [3]. The mission concept is designed to distinguish between the range of possible compositions. The science objectives of the Psyche mission are to:
1. Determine whether Psyche is a core, or if it is unmelted material.
2. Determine the relative ages of regions of its surface.
3. Determine whether small metal bodies incorporate the same light elements as are expected in the Earth’s high-pressure core.
4. Determine whether Psyche was formed under conditions more oxidizing or more reducing than Earth’s core.
5. Characterize Psyche’s topography.
Original language | English |
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Title of host publication | EPSC Abstracts |
Number of pages | 6 |
Volume | 14 |
Publisher | Europlanet Society |
Publication date | 2020 |
Article number | EPSC2020-988 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2020 |
Event | Europlanet Science Congress 2020 (EPSC2020) - Virtual meeting Duration: 21 Sept 2020 → 9 Oct 2020 |
Conference
Conference | Europlanet Science Congress 2020 (EPSC2020) |
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Location | Virtual meeting |
Period | 21/09/2020 → 09/10/2020 |