The spacecraft arrived last October spirit On board one Falcon Heavy rocket Launched from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The goal of the mission is to find the metallic asteroid of the same name (16) The soul To examine in more detail.
Now, more than half a year after its release, Psyche, according to NASA In the “Cruise flight mode“It passed over. This is what it was made for.” Ion engine Light the probe. The probe is now over 300 million kilometers away And it moves fast 37 kilometers per second, relative to the Earth. homogeneous 133,200 km/h. Once it overcomes the resistance of the atmosphere, it should More than 200,000 km/h It flies fast.
➤ Read more: NASA launched a space probe to the metallic asteroid Psyche
How does an ion engine work?
Ion engines generate thrust by pushing A molecules Motive gas It ionizes, i.e. has a positive electrical charge. It is accelerated by an electric field and launched as a jet outward.
In Psyche the drive depends on Xenon. According to NASA, this creates a blue glow, giving the engine a futuristic look.
➤ Read more: This is what the most accurate map to date of the minor planet Psyche reveals
Take advantage of the ion engine
Ion engines produce a lot more compared to chemical rocket engines Less thrust, But they wear out much more slowlyBecause there are almost no moving parts. This is necessary for the current mission because Psyche has been away for many years.
If all goes according to plan, the space probe will reach… May 2026 the Mars, which is driven by its attraction towards the soul. The spacecraft will be there July 2029 up and 26 months Spend in the asteroid's orbit. Approaching the orb 64 km Nearby areas.
Psyche has already experimented on its previous path. So I sent Cat content From a distance of 31 million kilometers from Earth.
➤ Read more: NASA transmits video of cats from space via laser
