Psyche Inspired: Chase Mortensen
Institution: Utah State University
Major: Computer Science
Psyche Inspired Class: 2019-2020
Reflections from CHase
Meeting Psyche 
Meeting Psyche
Chase Mortensen
Major: Computer Science
Genre/Medium: acrylic
About the work: This piece shows the Psyche spacecraft approaching the Psyche asteroid. The rough, unknown surface of Psyche is represented in the painting by coarse brush strokes and gaps on the surface, suggesting gaps in knowledge. Colors unlikely to appear on the actual asteroid are used, which emphasizes Psyche’s foreign nature. A face is faintly revealed on the surface of the asteroid. Psyche seems surprised to have a visitor.
Psyche 16
Psyche 16
Chase Mortensen
Major: Computer Science
Genre/Medium: pen and ink
About the work: This piece is a simple representation of (16) Psyche with an emphasis on rays of light surrounding the asteroid. The rays extending out from Psyche represent the many different angles from which the asteroid will be observed and analyzed.
Orbit
Orbit
Chase Mortensen
Major: Computer Science
Genre/Medium: acoustic guitar with digital effects
About the work: Orbit is an interpretation of the Psyche spacecraft arriving at and orbiting the asteroid. The computer-generated sounds are representative of the spacecraft and the guitar is representative of the asteroid. Both the guitar and the electronic sounds pan between left and right to give the impression of movement. The guitar, which represents the metallic nature of the asteroid, has a vibrato-type effect applied to it and slight detuning to indicate the irregularities on the surface of (16) Psyche. The electronic noises include distorted speech and more electronic sounding beeps, which represent the communication that will occur between Earth and the spacecraft. The song follows the path of the Psyche spacecraft. Initially, the asteroid is not present, and the song ends with the spacecraft going offline.
Hello, Psyche
Hello, Psyche
Chase Mortensen
Major: Computer Science
Genre/Medium: graphite pencils
About the work: This piece was inspired by a reflection on the human aspect of the Psyche mission. The image depicts the possible final moments of the Psyche mission in a symbolic gesture of gratitude and familiarity from the spacecraft and humankind toward the Psyche asteroid.