Everything is coming together for launch of NASA’s mission to a metal asteroid

[smp]

From Ars Technica:
“ NASA's Psyche spacecraft is running a year behind schedule before the beginning of its journey to explore a metal asteroid, but mission managers said Friday the probe is essentially ready for launch in less than two months.”

https://arstechnica.com/space/2023/08/e ... -asteroid/

smp

[Graeme1858]

It's an interesting mission.

https://psyche.asu.edu/mission/

Graeme

[Graeme1858]

The Psyche mission launch date has been put back from 5th October to 12th October.

https://blogs.nasa.gov/psyche/2023/09/2 ... or-launch/

The change allows the NASA team to complete verifications of the parameters used to control the Psyche spacecraft’s nitrogen cold gas thrusters. These thrusters are used to point the vehicle in support of science, power, thermal and other demands, such as spacecraft orientation and momentum management. The parameters were recently adjusted in response to updated, warmer temperature predictions for these thrusters. Operating the thrusters within temperature limits is essential to ensure the long-term health of the units.

Graeme