NASA asteroid mission: Psyche Spacecraft almost ready for launch

NASA asteroid mission: The US space agency recently invited members of the media at JPL to see its Psyche Spacecraft, which is due to launch from Cape Canaveral in August. Psyche will be on a mission to orbit an asteroid.

Members of the media had a chance to closely look at the soon-to-be asteroid-orbiting spacecraft at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Labs on Monday, April 11. NASA’s Psyche spacecraft will go on its journey to a metal-rich asteroid of the same name. (NASA)

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1/6 Members of the media had a chance to closely look at the soon-to-be asteroid-orbiting spacecraft at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Labs on Monday, April 11. NASA’s Psyche spacecraft will go on its journey to a metal-rich asteroid of the same name. (NASA)

The media also had the opportunity to interview the mission leaders including Psyche’s principal investigator, Lindy Elkins-Tanton from Arizona State University, and its project manager, Henry Stone from JPL. (NASA)

2/6 The media also had the opportunity to interview the mission leaders including Psyche’s principal investigator, Lindy Elkins-Tanton from Arizona State University, and its project manager, Henry Stone from JPL. (NASA)

According to Brian Bone, Psyche’s assembly, test, and launch operations manager at JPL, “Welcoming reporters into the clean room gives the public a glimpse of the years of hard work that have gone into this mission. Thanks to the Psyche team’s determination and skill, we’re in the final stretch of readying the spacecraft to head out to our launch site in Florida.”. (NASA)

3/6 According to Brian Bone, Psyche’s assembly, test, and launch operations manager at JPL, “Welcoming reporters into the clean room gives the public a glimpse of the years of hard work that have gone into this mission. Thanks to the Psyche team’s determination and skill, we’re in the final stretch of readying the spacecraft to head out to our launch site in Florida.”. (NASA)

To keep the spacecraft sterile and prevent it from carrying any earth bacteria into space, the equipment carried by the reporters was wiped and cleaned with isopropyl alcohol and donned protective smocks and hair coverings before entering the High Bay 2 clean room in the Lab’s storied Spacecraft Assembly Facility. (NASA)

4/6 To keep the spacecraft sterile and prevent it from carrying any earth bacteria into space, the equipment carried by the reporters was wiped and cleaned with isopropyl alcohol and donned protective smocks and hair coverings before entering the High Bay 2 clean room in the Lab’s storied Spacecraft Assembly Facility. (NASA)

This NASA asteroid mission has been in the phase known as assembly, test, and launch operations since March 2021. Since the launch window is limited, scientists and engineers have worked round the clock in order to finish the spacecraft's assembly in time. (NASA)

5/6 This NASA asteroid mission has been in the phase known as assembly, test, and launch operations since March 2021. Since the launch window is limited, scientists and engineers have worked round the clock in order to finish the spacecraft's assembly in time. (NASA)

In order to reach the asteroid, the spacecraft will fly by Mars for a gravity assist in May 2023 and, in early 2026, orbit around asteroid Psyche in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. The launch window for the Psyche Spacecraft opens August 1. (NASA)

6/6 In order to reach the asteroid, the spacecraft will fly by Mars for a gravity assist in May 2023 and, in early 2026, orbit around asteroid Psyche in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. The launch window for the Psyche Spacecraft opens August 1. (NASA)