The NASA Psyche spacecraft, on its mission to explore the metal-rich asteroid 16 Psyche, has hit a snag. A decrease in fuel pressure within the solar electric propulsion system led to the thrusters being powered off as a precautionary measure. The probe is approximately 150 million miles away from Earth and is expected to remain without thrust until at least mid-June.
The issue affects the spacecraft’s ability to expel xenon gas, which powers the four Hall thrusters. According to NASA, the decrease in fuel pressure occurred on April 1, when the pressure dropped from 36 pounds per square inch (psi) to about 26 psi. The mission team is working to address the problem and has considered switching to a backup fuel line.
The Psyche spacecraft’s propulsion system is innovative, using sunlight collected by large solar arrays to generate electricity for the thrusters. This approach allows the spacecraft to be highly efficient and light, with the potential to accelerate to speeds of up to 124,000 miles per hour relative to Earth.
NASA notes that traditional chemical propulsion would have required significantly more fuel, making Psyche’s system a significant advantage. The team is working to resolve the issue, which may involve switching to the backup fuel line or finding other solutions to improve the original line’s condition.
The next major milestone for the mission is set for 2026, when Psyche will fly by Mars and use its gravitational tides to propel itself toward the main asteroid belt. The probe aims to investigate the mysterious properties of 16 Psyche and determine whether it is a bare planetary core or contains valuable metals. A possible encounter with the asteroid in 2029 remains uncertain pending resolution of the current issue.
Source: https://www.space.com/space-exploration/asteroid-comet-missions/psyche-spacecrafts-sci-fi-thrusters-suffer-glitch-on-way-to-metal-rich-asteroid