"Psyche Spacecraft Activates Ion Thrusters for Asteroid Mission"

NASA's Psyche spacecraft, launched on October 13, 2023, has activated its ion thrusters and is now cruising through space using solar-electric propulsion. The mission aims to reach the metal-rich asteroid 16 Psyche by 2029, after a gravity assist from Mars in 2026. The spacecraft's ion engines, powered by solar arrays, will propel it to speeds up to 124,000 miles per hour. The mission seeks to study the asteroid's composition to gain insights into the formation of rocky planets. Psyche is also testing new deep-space optical communications technology.