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4w ago

NASA Investigates Psyche Spacecraft Propulsion Issue After Thruster Shutdown

A xenon pressure drop caused the electric thrusters to shut down on April 1, with engineers working on solutions as the spacecraft coasts toward its next trajectory milestone in mid-June.

© NASA
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NASA's Psyche mission is set to arrive at a main belt asteroid also named Psyche in 2029.

Overview

  • NASA's Psyche spacecraft, en route to a metal-rich asteroid, experienced a pressure drop in its xenon feed line, causing its Hall effect thrusters to shut down on April 1.
  • The pressure fell from 36 psi to 26 psi, halting the electric propulsion system critical for the spacecraft's multi-year journey to the asteroid Psyche, scheduled for arrival in 2029.
  • Jet Propulsion Laboratory engineers are diagnosing the issue and considering switching to backup propellant lines to restore normal operations.
  • NASA has stated that the spacecraft can continue coasting until mid-June without significant trajectory impact, ensuring time to resolve the problem before corrective maneuvers are required.
  • Launched in October 2023, the $1.2 billion mission aims to study the asteroid Psyche, believed to be the exposed core of an early planet, and test advanced laser communications technology.