This piece is a simple representation of 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. Lines from varoious angles are drawn to show the Psyche asteroid in all its glory.

Psyche Inspired

Walking Among the Stars

Xiwen (Julie) Hu

March 5, 2021

Major: Environmental Studies & Visual Arts Coordinate Major, Chemistry minor

Genre/Medium: song

About the work: A song written from the perspective of the Psyche spacecraft exploring the vast nothingness of the universe and the meanings behind the universe that humans create through space exploration.

View the Works Meet the Interns Program Overview

A brightly colored illustration, with shades of purple, pink, yellow, orange, and blue, depicts flowing organic forms overlapping each other in a psychedelic pattern. Three sets of hands break through the pattern, reaching up toward the Psyche asteroid, which is minimally drawn in shades of yellow. A starburst emanates from behind the asteroid. Overlaid above is blue and white text, which reads: Mission to Psyche 16, Mid 2022.

Psyche On Tour

This piece is a multimedia painting of the Psyche spacecraft as it approaches the Psyche asteroid. The background is made up of many different colors of acrylic paint splattered on to a wooden canvas. The spacecraft is made up of styrofoam and metal wire, and it is decorated with different metallic paints.

Satellite Approaching Psyche

Art of an Asteroid

This piece is 24 inches by 13.5 inches. Red and black ink marks on 0.25 inch plexiglass were utilized to create lines that outline the shape of Psyche. There are two major craters and a series of rifts on the surface that appear pockmarked with small craters. As light shines through the plexiglass, red and blue shadows in the shape of Psyche are cast onto a white background.

Align

On a computer screen, a model of the Psyche asteroid is displayed in the center. Over the asteroid is a timer, counting down the days, hours, minutes, and seconds until the launch. As you scroll down, the Psyche asteroid rotates and moves to the left, revealing text that describes the current mission phase and link to learn more.

Countdown to Psyche

One page of the full storybook. This page says "The Psyche asteroid is hypothesized to be made largely of metal. Color the Psyche asteroid."

Draw Your Mission to (16) Psyche

Three semicircles sit at the center of the piece, the smallest at the center representing the core of our planet, and surrounding it planet Earth itself with land and ocean masses. The third semicircle encases the other two with an intense, dark black, symbolizing the vastness of space. Stemming from the Earth are several strands reaching out towards a star. One of these strands has a distinctive appearance of a strand of DNA. Also featured are the Sun, looming in the background in an intense and vibrant yellow, along with the Moon floating slightly to the side and above planet Earth. At the bottom of the design, 4 lines float beneath the Earth, becoming increasingly thinner and faded.

Origin

This piece is 8 inches by 10 inches. Black ink on 7 layers of 0.1 inch plexiglass was utilized to create thin black lines that build up a slightly three-dimensional form of Psyche. There are two major craters, a series of rifts, and the surface appears pockmarked with small craters. The many layers of glass are held by a dark wooden frame.

Surfaces

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Meet the Interns

Psyche Inspired Overview

Psyche Inspired is a program that brings undergraduate students from any discipline or major together to share the excitement, innovation, and scientific and engineering content of NASA’s Psyche mission with the public in new ways through artistic and creative works. These works are posted in the gallery above and highlighted on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. View the full resolution images in the image gallery. ASU undergraduate Kaxandra Nessi is the student manager of Psyche Inspired. Brooke Owen was the former student manager from 2017-2019. This year’s Psyche Inspired cohort is known as the Nickel Class.

Read a feature about Psyche Inspired in Eos.

Psyche Inspired was piloted at ASU during the 2017-2018 academic year. The following academic year, Psyche Inspired expanded nationally! The works from each Psyche Inspired cohort are collected in individual downloadable books that tells the story of Psyche through musical scores, sculptures, painting, 3-D models, photography, acrylic art, needlepoint, stop-motion films, and mixed media.

Click here to view all the Psyche Inspired books

Take a look at our map that shows how the Psyche Inspired program has grown over the years!

Current Student Collaborations Participants

View a list of the students, faculty, staff, and mentors currently involved in Psyche Student Collaborations.

Student Collaborations Participants

Psyche Inspired

Walking Among the Stars

Xiwen (Julie) Hu

Meet the Interns

Anne Elliott

Sam Hollasch

Xiwen (Julie) Hu

Mikayla Hymanson

Zarina Karapetyan

Cameryn Laborte

Mitchel Medvec

Aarti Patel

Lydia Pitts

Sarai Rankin

Siena Smania

Alyssa Thornhill

Aurelia L. Waller

Brianna Young

Daniel Zepeda-Cuba

Psyche Inspired Overview

Current Student Collaborations Participants