The Psyche mission launch occurs in Phase D. NASA selected SpaceX of Hawthorne, California, to provide launch services for the Psyche mission. The launch period for the Psyche mission is October 5-25, 2023.
Prior to launch, the instruments and spacecraft are assembled and tested.
Once the Psyche spacecraft is fully assembled with the solar panels, which fold during transport and launch, the spacecraft will be shipped to Kennedy Space Center, Florida. At the launch site, the team will conduct an entire re-check of the spacecraft before integrating it with the launch vehicle.
The launch period for the Psyche spacecraft is October 5-25, 2023. When the launch schedule is available, it will be linked here. The launch will be broadcast and streamed live via NASA TV. For information about watching the launch in person, visit the NASA Kennedy Space Center page.
NASA has selected SpaceX of Hawthorne, California, to provide launch services for the Psyche mission on a Falcon Heavy rocket from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Once in space, the Psyche spacecraft travels using solar-electric (low-thrust) propulsion. Solar electric propulsion uses electricity from solar arrays to create electromagnetic fields to accelerate and expel charged atoms (ions) of xenon to create a very low thrust with a very efficient use of propellant.[14] This will be the first use of Hall effect thrusters beyond lunar orbit.
The spacecraft will travel 2.2 billion miles.
