STATUS
ACTIVE
AGENCY
NASA
MISSION TYPE
Asteroid Orbiter
TARGET
16 Psyche
LAUNCH
13 October 2023
ARRIVAL / RETURN
2029
MISSION OVERVIEW
About the mission
Psyche is travelling to the asteroid 16 Psyche in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. The asteroid is unusually rich in metal and may provide clues about the formation of planetary interiors.
OBJECTIVES
What is it trying to achieve?
01Map asteroid Psyche.
02Study its composition.
03Investigate its magnetic history.
04Understand whether it may resemble an exposed planetary core.