Mission to (16) Psyche

Carol Polanskey*, Linda Elkins-Tanton, James Bell, Richard Binzel, David Lawrence, José Merayo, Ryan Park, Benjamin Weiss, David Williams

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingArticle in proceedingsResearchpeer-review

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    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.
    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationEPSC Abstracts
    Number of pages6
    Volume14
    PublisherEuroplanet Society
    Publication date2020
    Article numberEPSC2020-988
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2020
    EventEuroplanet Science Congress 2020 (EPSC2020) - Virtual meeting
    Duration: 21 Sept 20209 Oct 2020

    Conference

    ConferenceEuroplanet Science Congress 2020 (EPSC2020)
    LocationVirtual meeting
    Period21/09/202009/10/2020

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