All articles tagged with #solar electric propulsion
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 is also testing new deep-space optical communications technology and gathering scientific data en route.
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.
NASA's Advanced Electric Propulsion System (AEPS), a solar electric propulsion system that uses xenon as propellant, has passed qualification tests and will be integrated into the Lunar Gateway. Originally designed for the now-cancelled AARM mission, AEPS will serve as the primary propulsion method for deep space and cargo missions, supporting the Artemis program's goal of landing astronauts on the Moon. The AEPS thrusters will be mounted on the Power and Propulsion Element (PPE) of the Lunar Gateway, set to launch in November 2025.
NASA is preparing to launch the Psyche spacecraft on October 5th to study the asteroid 16 Psyche, which is believed to be the partial core of a "planetesimal." By studying this metal asteroid, NASA hopes to gain insights into Earth's core and potentially discover clues about habitability and the search for extraterrestrial life. The mission will also test new communication and propulsion systems, including the use of optical communications and solar electric propulsion. The spacecraft is expected to arrive at its destination in 2026 and spend 26 months orbiting 16 Psyche to gather data and determine if it is indeed a planetary core.
The BepiColombo mission is preparing for its third flyby of Mercury on June 19, which will help the spacecraft fight against the enormous gravitational pull of the Sun. The flyby will take place at an altitude of about 236 km and will be used to guide BepiColombo's path through the inner Solar System. The mission will enter a challenging part of its journey to Mercury after this flyby, gradually increasing the use of solar electric propulsion through additional propulsion periods called 'thrust arcs'. The flyby will provide a glimpse of the Mercury science expected during the main mission.