The launch of the Psyche probe to the asteroid of the same name has been postponed to October 12
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The launch of the Psyche mission to the asteroid of the same name has been postponed from October 5 to October 12, the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) announced. The launch will be carried out using the SpaceX Falcon Heavy launch vehicle from Launch Complex 39A at the Kennedy Space Center at 10:16 a.m. East Coast time (5:16 p.m. Moscow time).
The postponement of the launch is due to the need to check the control parameters of the probe’s engines, including its orientation in outer space. NASA said in a statement that the launch could be rescheduled to any day between October 12 and October 25.
The mission to the Psyche asteroid, which is located in the main asteroid belt between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter, was originally scheduled for launch in 2022. However, due to insufficiently tested software required to successfully launch the probe, it was decided to conduct additional research and postpone the launch to 2023.
The Psyche mission involves using the gravitational forces of Mars to enter the asteroid’s orbit in 2029. The probe will spend 21 months orbiting the asteroid, studying its surface, structure, magnetic field and composition, which is believed to be rich in nickel and iron.
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