NASA's mission to explore the remains of a dead planet
. The spacecraft is due to launch on Oct. 5, 2023, with the launch window running through to Oct. 25. , NASA revealed that the major problems were with the spacecraft's GNC software, which is crucial for controlling the orientation of the spacecraft as it flies and is used to point the spacecraft's antenna toward Earth to return data and accept commands from mission control. In addition, the GNC software is necessary to aim Psyche's solar electric propulsion system.
The issues weren't fixable in time for a 2022 launch, and with that launch window missed, the spacecraft will have to take an altered path to its metallic destination. The 2022 liftoff would have brought Psyche to its asteroid target in early 2026, but a 2023 launch pushes the craft's arrival to August 2029, NASA officials said in their statement about the delay.
In another tweak to the final plans, NASA's Janus small-satellite mission, which is designed to study a pair of binary asteroid systems, may not be able to hitch a ride to space with Psyche as it would have on a 2022 launch."NASA continues to assess options" for Janus, officials wrote. But NASA's Deep Space Optical Communications may still fly with Psyche in 2023. That ride-along mission is integrated into the asteroid probe and can't be disentangled as easily.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Psyche Set To Soar: NASA’s Date With a Metal-Rich AsteroidNow that fueling and testing are complete, NASA’s Psyche spacecraft is ready to meet its ride – a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket. The launch is now targeting 10:34 a.m. EDT on Thursday, October 5 from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida after optimizing the trajectory for the mi
Read more »
NASA's First Asteroid Samples Land On EarthThe pebbles and dust delivered by the Osiris-Rex spacecraft represent the biggest haul from beyond the moon, capping a seven-year journey.
Read more »
In a first, NASA returns asteroid samples to EarthThe collected rocks and soil could help scientists unlock secrets about the solar system and how life emerged on this planet.
Read more »
Experts Say NASA’s Mars Sample Return Plan Is Deeply FlawedAn independent review board found several serious issues regarding NASA's Mars Sample Return mission's timetable, cost, and technical plans.
Read more »