
NASA's Psyche Spacecraft Revs Up After Backup Propellant Line Switch
2025-05-29
Author: Wei
In an exciting update from the cosmos, NASA has made a critical decision to switch to a backup propellant line for its Psyche asteroid mission, allowing the spacecraft to get back on track with its electric propulsion system!
The Psyche spacecraft, destined for the mysterious metallic asteroid also named Psyche, had its thrusters go offline in early April due to a drop in pressure in its xenon propellant line. By late April, NASA engineers were hard at work investigating the issue, aiming to reignite those vital thrusters by mid-June.
On May 28, NASA revealed that the culprit was a faulty valve component obstructing the flow of xenon, leading to the pressure dip. But fear not! The agency has opted for a previously discussed backup solution.
Now, with the backup propellant line up and running, Psyche's thrusters are set to roar back to life by mid-June. To safeguard against future setbacks, NASA is keeping a similar valve open in the new line.
As Psyche continues its journey, it relies on electric thrusters and will receive a Mars gravity assist in May 2026, aiming to arrive at its target asteroid in August 2029. Once there, Psyche will enter orbit and unlock the secrets of the metallic asteroid, believed to be a remnant from the core of a planetesimal that never evolved into a full planet.
This valve issue marks the first significant challenge since Psyche's launch aboard a Falcon Heavy rocket in October 2023. The ambitious $1.2 billion Discovery-class mission has already faced hurdles during development, with delays pushing the launch back more than a year and costs rising by 20%. But with this backup strategy, the journey to the stars is back in action!