JPL
Careers
Education
Science & Technology
JPL Logo
JPL Logo
Image

Asteroid Psyche (Illustration)

March 29, 2021
This illustration, created in March 2021, depicts the 140-mile-wide (226-kilometer-wide) asteroid Psyche, which lies in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.

This illustration, created in March 2021, depicts the 140-mile-wide (226-kilometer-wide) asteroid Psyche, which lies in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. Psyche is the focal point of NASA's mission of the same name. The Psyche spacecraft is set to launch in August 2022 and arrive at the asteroid in 2026, where it will orbit for 21 months and investigate its composition.

Based on data obtained from Earth, scientists believe Psyche is a mixture of metal and rock. The rock and metal may be in large provinces, or areas, on the asteroid — as illustrated in this rendering. Another possibility is that rock and metal may be intimately mixed on a scale too small to detect from orbit — as depicted in an illustration here: PIA24472. Observing and measuring how the metal and rock are mixed will help scientists determine how Psyche formed.

Exploring the asteroid could also give valuable insight into how our own planet and others formed. The Psyche team will use a magnetometer to measure the asteroid's magnetic field. A multispectral imager will capture images of the surface, as well as data about the Psyche's composition and topography. Spectrometers will analyze the neutrons and gamma rays coming from the surface to reveal the elements that make up the asteroid itself.

The image was created by Peter Rubin.

Arizona State University in Tempe leads the mission. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California is responsible for the mission's overall management, system engineering, integration and testing, and mission operations. Maxar Technologies provided the high-power solar electric propulsion spacecraft chassis. For more information about NASA's Psyche mission, go to: http://www.nasa.gov/psyche or https://psyche.asu.edu/

Download JPG
Download TIFF
Mission
Target
  • Asteroid
Spacecraft
  • Psyche
Credit
NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU

Keep Exploring

NASA's Psyche: Picking up Launch Prep for 2023

NASA Shows Off Psyche Spacecraft to Media

Media Meet the Team Leading NASA's Psyche Mission

Psyche Spacecraft at the Asteroid Psyche (Illustration)

NASA's Psyche en Route to TVAC

Tall Order: NASA's Psyche in TVAC Testing

One of Psyche's Solar Array Successfully Deployed

Up Close With a Solar Panel on Psyche

Unfolding Psyche's Giant Solar Arrays

Preparing for Psyche's Solar Array Deployment

Related Topic

News .

Engineers Keep an Eye on Fuel Supply of NASA’s Oldest Mars Orbiter

News .

NASA’s Magellan Data Reveals Volcanic Activity on Venus

News .

Study Finds Ocean Currents May Affect Rotation of Europa’s Icy Crust

Mission .

Lunar Trailblazer

News .

Study Finds Venus’ ‘Squishy’ Outer Shell May Be Resurfacing the Planet

News .

NASA’s NuSTAR Telescope Reveals Hidden Light Shows on the Sun

Mission .

Cooperative Autonomous Distributed Robotic Exploration

News .

NASA’s Perseverance Rover Completes Mars Sample Depot

News .

NASA’s Juno Team Assessing Camera After 48th Flyby of Jupiter

News .

NASA’s Psyche Mission Continues Preparation for Launch in 2023

About JPL
Who We Are
Executive Council
Directors
Careers
Internships
The JPL Story
JPL Achievements
Documentary Series
Annual Reports
Missions
Current
Past
Future
All
News
All
Earth
Solar System
Stars and Galaxies
Subscribe to JPL News
Galleries
Images
Videos
Audio
Podcasts
Apps
Visions of the Future
Slice of History
Robotics at JPL
Events
Lecture Series
Team Competitions
Speakers Bureau
Calendar
Visit
Public Tours
Virtual Tour
Directions and Maps
Topics
JPL Life
Solar System
Mars
Earth
Climate Change
Exoplanets
Stars and Galaxies
Robotics
More
Asteroid Watch
NASA's Eyes Visualizations
Universe - Internal Newsletter
Social Media
Get the Latest from JPL
Follow Us

JPL is a federally funded research and development center managed for NASA by Caltech.

More from JPL
Careers Education Science & Technology Acquisitions JPL Store
Careers
Education
Science & Technology
Acquisitions
JPL Store
Related NASA Sites
Basics of Spaceflight
Climate Kids
Earth / Global Climate Change
Exoplanet Exploration
Mars Exploration
Solar System Exploration
Space Place
NASA's Eyes Visualization Project
Voyager Interstellar Mission
NASA
Caltech
Privacy
Image Policy
FAQ
Feedback
Site Managers: Veronica McGregor, Randal Jackson
Site Editors: Tony Greicius, Naomi Hartono
CL#: 21-0018