NASA’s Psyche spacecraft is now on track after a glitch in its propulsion system was fixed by switching to a backup fuel line. The spacecraft experienced an unexpected drop in pressure in April, which could have affected its trajectory towards the asteroid it aims to explore.
Engineers quickly implemented a solution, utilizing the spacecraft’s identical backup propellant line to mitigate the issue. Despite the setback, the mission remains on course for its rendezvous with the asteroid in August 2029.
The Psyche spacecraft uses two large solar arrays to power its ion thrusters, which propel it using xenon gas. However, after firing the thrusters in May 2024, engineers detected a pressure drop of about 10 psi, from 36 to 26 pounds per square inch.
A thorough investigation revealed that a faulty valve inside one of the propulsion system’s valves was obstructing the flow of propellant. The team has since switched to the backup fuel line and will resume firing the thrusters by mid-June.
The mission is scheduled for a Mars flyby in spring 2026, with the spacecraft using Jupiter’s gravity to slingshot towards the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. If successful, Psyche will enter the asteroid’s orbit in late July 2029 and begin its exploration mission.
Psyche, named after the metal-rich asteroid it aims to explore, is a 140-mile-wide (226-kilometer) asteroid that may be the core of a shattered planetesimal. The mission has faced several challenges since its launch in October 2023, including an issue with the spacecraft’s flight software and delays due to thruster problems. Despite these setbacks, NASA remains optimistic about the mission’s success.
Source: https://gizmodo.com/nasa-switches-to-backup-fuel-line-after-psyche-thruster-glitch-2000608685