Psyche Mission: Earth & Moon Images from 180 Million Miles Away
Psyche Spacecraft Captures Images of Earth adn Moon During Calibration
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Key Points:
Psyche Mission: NASA’s Psyche spacecraft, launched in October 2023, is en route to asteroid Psyche to study its composition (believed to be a mix of rock and metal, similar to Earth) and learn about planet formation.
Imager Calibration: Before reaching its destination, the spacecraft is calibrating its imager instrument. This involves capturing images of objects that reflect sunlight, like Earth.
Earth & Moon Images: On July 20 and 23, Psyche successfully captured images of Earth and its moon from 180 million miles away.
Imager Details: The imager uses twin cameras wiht filters and telescopic lenses to capture images in different light spectra.
* Future Tests & Milestones: The team will continue testing with targets like Saturn or Vesta. A crucial milestone is a Mars flyby next year, which will use the planet’s gravity to boost the spacecraft towards asteroid Psyche, with arrival expected in 2029.
In essence, the article details a successful calibration test for the Psyche spacecraft, showcasing its ability to capture images of distant objects as it prepares for its primary mission.