The Psyche spacecraft uses solar-electric propulsion and xenon as its propellant.
Psyche's closest approach to Mars is expected at 19:28 UTC.
NASA's Psyche spacecraft is approaching Mars.
The Mars flyby will give Psyche a gravity assist on its way to asteroid 16 Psyche.
Psyche was 29,780 miles from Mars and moving at 10,340 mph relative to Mars.
Psyche is expected to arrive at asteroid 16 Psyche in late July 2029.
The MPD thruster at JPL reached power levels more than 25 times higher than the electric thrusters on NASA’s Psyche spacecraft.
NASA’s Psyche spacecraft currently operates the highest-power electric propulsion system in service at the agency.
The Psyche spacecraft can be accelerated to 124,000 miles per hour by its electric thrusters in space.
The Psyche spacecraft’s electric thrusters are the most powerful electric thrusters currently used on any NASA spacecraft.
B1075-22 and B1072-2 were built as side boosters for Psyche.
B1075-22 was converted to Falcon 9 after Psyche was delayed.
B1072-2 was kept in storage for GOES-U after Psyche was delayed.
B1064 and B1065 were assigned to USSF-44 before Psyche was delayed.
NASA and the European Space Agency communicated with the Psyche spacecraft at a distance of 265 million kilometers using a dedicated transmitter and a 2.3-meter-diameter telescope.
NASA paid $117,000,000 under a 2020 contract for the Falcon Heavy launch of the Psyche asteroid mission, which launched in 2023.
The Falcon Heavy first-stage boosters supporting the Europa Clipper launch flew their sixth and final mission on 2024-10-14 after previously launching NASA’s Psyche, USSF-44, USSF-52, USSF-67, and Hughes JUPITER 3.
The Psyche spacecraft launched on 2023-10-13 aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket.
The DSOC flight laser transceiver is flying aboard NASA’s Psyche spacecraft, which launched on 2023-10-13.
The most recent Discovery mission, Psyche, cost $1.2 billion, influenced by rising costs and accounting changes.