NASA’s spacecraft, Psyche, launched toward a metal-rich asteroid located between Mars and Jupiter, traveling at 40,265 mph. It is currently over 180 million miles from Earth, with a planned arrival at the asteroid in 2029. The spacecraft recently captured an image of Earth and the Moon, reminiscent of the iconic “pale blue dot” photo taken by Voyager 1.
Despite encountering issues with its electric thrusters due to a pressure drop, the team switched to backup systems allowing the mission to continue. Psyche, believed to consist of materials similar to Earth’s core, offers insight into planetary formation. The asteroid is a remnant from the solar system’s formation about 4.6 billion years ago.
The spacecraft’s next major milestone involves a flyby of Mars in May 2026, which will use the planet’s gravity for propulsion. Images will continue to be captured along the journey for testing purposes.
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