NASA’s Psyche spacecraft has hit a technical snag en route to its namesake destination, an unexplored metal-rich asteroid orbiting between Mars and Jupiter. The issue? A pressure drop in the xenon fuel line powering its plasma thrusters. The craft, launched in October 2023 on a six-year cruise through the inner solar system, is currently flying under no thrust while engineers investigate the fault. For now, Psyche is still on course.
A Cautious Hold
Earlier this month, onboard sensors flagged a reduction in xenon line pressure, from 36 to 26 psi, prompting the spacecraft to shut down its four electric thrusters as a precaution. According to mission managers, the engines can remain off until at least mid-June without affecting Psyche’s trajectory. The spacecraft uses Hall-effect thrusters, which ionise xenon gas and expel it to generate a low but continuous push. While each engine produces only about 250 millinewtons of thrust, roughly the weight of three coins, their endurance over months and years makes them ideal for long missions like this one.
“This is why we design with redundancy,” said NASA’s Louise Prockter. “There’s a backup fuel line we can switch to if needed. We’re not worried, but we are watching closely.”
On Track, For Now
The propulsion pause hasn’t altered Psyche’s timeline yet. The spacecraft is still aiming to use a gravity assist from Mars next year to sling itself toward the asteroid belt. If all goes to plan, it will meet with the asteroid Psyche in August 2029. The destination is unique. Roughly the size of Massachusetts, the asteroid is one of the only known objects with a strongly metallic signature thought to be made of iron and nickel, possibly resembling the core of an early protoplanet. With only nine metal-rich asteroids identified among the million known to science, Psyche represents a rare chance to examine a planetary building block up close.
Why Psyche Matters
Little is known about what awaits the spacecraft. Estimates of Psyche’s mass and reflectivity suggest a dense, metallic composition, but its surface remains a mystery. Predictions range from smooth, cratered plains to jagged peaks and deep grooves, all speculation until the probe arrives. NASA’s mission also includes an experimental laser communication system and a hefty scientific payload. At more than $1.4 billion, it’s a major investment aimed at unlocking early solar system history.
If engineers resolve the propulsion issue, the spacecraft will resume its electric thrust operations and continue the journey into deep space. And in five years’ time, we’ll begin to see what this rare metallic world really looks like beyond the artist impressions and into solid, observable science.
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