NASA has been working for a long time to study an asteroid that is very rich in metals. The final tests of the Psyche spacecraft, which was developed to study the asteroid with a large reserve, began in March. However, the problem seems big in the project, which is expected to take place in August.
Software issue controlling Psyche spacecraft delayed project for 1 year
Psyche, a probe designed to explore the metal-rich asteroid 16 Psyche, is an important project for NASA from an economic perspective. Psyche, which may be one of the biggest projects ever, from a space mining perspective, has been struggling with some problems recently.
In the past weeks, NASA said that there was a minor problem in the software controlling the Psyche spacecraft, so the launch would take place on September 20, 2022. However, it seems that the software issue that could put the project at risk could not be fixed. NASA stated that the launch has been delayed to mid-2023.
In our solar system, between Mars and Jupiter, the asteroid named Psyche is estimated to have 10 quintillion dollars worth of minerals. The 225 km diameter asteroid has a structure made almost entirely of iron and nickel.
If the launch takes place in 2023, as expected, the Psyche spacecraft will reach the asteroid in 2029. On the other hand, according to some information, there is a possibility that the project will not be realized in 2023. Troubleshooting and necessary testing could also take until 2024.
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