NASA’s Psyche probe, carrying a new laser communication system, has begun its six-year journey. The probe, which was launched uncrewed on Friday with a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, will travel to the asteroid, which is approximately 497 million km away.A very important task to ensure communication in future deep space missions
After its nearly six-year journey, the Psyche probe will reach the asteroid Psyche, which is rich in iron and nickel and may hold clues to the formation of planets, including our own.
The only purpose of the vehicle, which will remain in orbit around the asteroid for 26 months and examine it with various instruments, is not to examine the asteroid. This vehicle has DSOC (Deep Space Optical Communications), a device that can send and receive infrared laser data. Thanks to this device, NASA will test powerful laser transmitters and new methods to decipher the signals sent by the device from deep space.Making a statement on the subject, NASA Science Mission Directorate employee Nicola Fox said, “I am excited to see that Psyche, as NASA’s first mission to the metal world, will unlock the treasure trove of science. By studying the Psyche asteroid, we will understand our universe and our place in it, especially our own planet Earth.” “We hope to better understand its mysterious and inaccessible metal core.” said.
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