The Psyche spacecraft has successfully calibrated its cameras by looking back at Earth, capturing stunning images of our planet and the Moon from 180 million miles away. The spacecraft, headed for a metal-rich asteroid of the same name, is on schedule to arrive in 2029.
To test its instruments, scientists chose targets that shine with reflected sunlight and have similar spectra to Psyche. The mission’s camera instrument, which includes two identical cameras equipped with filters, photographed the asteroid Psyche’s surface at different wavelengths of light.
Calibration tests were also conducted around other planets, including Jupiter and Mars, which had reddish spectra compared to Earth’s bluer tones. These tests ensured that the imager’s performance is stable and consistent.
The spacecraft has completed its routine checks, with the magnetometer and gamma-ray spectrometer passing their tests successfully. The mission team is now on track to fly by Mars in May 2026, which will use the Red Planet’s gravity as a slingshot to reach Psyche.
The Psyche mission aims to help scientists better understand the formation of rocky planets with metallic cores, including Earth. With this mission, NASA seeks to gain insights into the asteroid’s composition and its role in the solar system’s history.
For more information about the Psyche mission, visit: https://science.nasa.gov/mission/psyche/
Source: https://www.nasa.gov/missions/psyche-mission/nasas-psyche-captures-images-of-earth-moon