NASA’s Psyche begins near-continuous thrust towards its 2029 asteroid target
NASA’s Psyche spacecraft began nearly continuous electric propulsion on 28 September, after a Mars flyby placed it on course for the metal-rich asteroid Psyche. Its Hall-effect thrusters are expected to operate for nearly 90% of the remaining cruise, with arrival planned for summer 2029.
Bottom line — Psyche is due to spend about two years mapping an asteroid roughly 280 kilometres wide.
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NASA says the thrusters produce up to 250 millinewtons of force, applied over long periods.
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The spacecraft uses one of its four Hall-effect thrusters at a time, according to New Space Economy.
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NASA plans about three months of full-power thrust before gradually reducing it as sunlight—and available electrical power—declines.
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Psyche launched with about 1,090 kilograms of xenon and has used roughly one-third, according to Knowridge Science Report.
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Both reports describe the asteroid as a possible remnant of an early planetary body's metallic interior; that origin is still a hypothesis.
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NASA uses reaction wheels to counter the thrusters’ small twisting force, with periodic adjustments during the cruise.
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