A Post-Launch Summary of the Science of NASA's Psyche Mission

Steven D. Dibb; Erik Asphaug; James F. Bell; Richard P. Binzel; William F. Bottke; Saverio Cambioni; John M. Christoph; Linda T. Elkins-Tanton; Ralf Jaumann; David J. Lawrence; Rona Oran; Joseph G. O’Rourke; Carol Polansky; Benjamin P. Weiss; Mark Wieczorek; David A. Williams

doi:10.1029/2023AV001077

A Post-Launch Summary of the Science of NASA's Psyche Mission

Steven D. Dibb, Erik Asphaug, James F. Bell, Richard P. Binzel, William F. Bottke, Saverio Cambioni, John M. Christoph, Linda T. Elkins-Tanton, Ralf Jaumann, David J. Lawrence, Rona Oran, Joseph G. O’Rourke, Carol Polansky, Benjamin P. Weiss, Mark Wieczorek, David A. Williams

Planetary Sciences

Research output: Contribution to journal › Comment/debate › peer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

Astronomical observations indicate that asteroid (16) Psyche is a large, high-density (likely >3,400 kg·m⁻³), metal-rich (30–55 vol. %) asteroid. Psyche may be remnant core material or it could be a primordial, undifferentiated metal-rich object. We discuss the science objectives of the upcoming Psyche mission, which will employ three instruments (the Magnetometer, Multispectral Imager, and Gamma-Ray and Neutron Spectrometer) and will use Doppler tracking of the spacecraft to explore the asteroid. This mission will shed light on the nature and origins of metal-rich objects in the solar system and beyond, including the cores of the terrestrial planets.

Original language	English (US)
Article number	e2023AV001077
Journal	AGU Advances
Volume	5
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1029/2023AV001077
State	Published - Apr 2024

Keywords

Psyche
asteroid
mission
objectives

ASJC Scopus subject areas

General Earth and Planetary Sciences

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10.1029/2023AV001077

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Dibb, S. D., Asphaug, E., Bell, J. F., Binzel, R. P., Bottke, W. F., Cambioni, S., Christoph, J. M., Elkins-Tanton, L. T., Jaumann, R., Lawrence, D. J., Oran, R., O’Rourke, J. G., Polansky, C., Weiss, B. P., Wieczorek, M., & Williams, D. A. (2024). A Post-Launch Summary of the Science of NASA's Psyche Mission. AGU Advances, 5(2), Article e2023AV001077. https://doi.org/10.1029/2023AV001077

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abstract = "Astronomical observations indicate that asteroid (16) Psyche is a large, high-density (likely >3,400 kg·m−3), metal-rich (30–55 vol. %) asteroid. Psyche may be remnant core material or it could be a primordial, undifferentiated metal-rich object. We discuss the science objectives of the upcoming Psyche mission, which will employ three instruments (the Magnetometer, Multispectral Imager, and Gamma-Ray and Neutron Spectrometer) and will use Doppler tracking of the spacecraft to explore the asteroid. This mission will shed light on the nature and origins of metal-rich objects in the solar system and beyond, including the cores of the terrestrial planets.",

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author = "Dibb, {Steven D.} and Erik Asphaug and Bell, {James F.} and Binzel, {Richard P.} and Bottke, {William F.} and Saverio Cambioni and Christoph, {John M.} and Elkins-Tanton, {Linda T.} and Ralf Jaumann and Lawrence, {David J.} and Rona Oran and O{\textquoteright}Rourke, {Joseph G.} and Carol Polansky and Weiss, {Benjamin P.} and Mark Wieczorek and Williams, {David A.}",

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year = "2024",

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doi = "10.1029/2023AV001077",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "5",

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AU - Dibb, Steven D.

AU - Asphaug, Erik

AU - Bell, James F.

AU - Binzel, Richard P.

AU - Bottke, William F.

AU - Cambioni, Saverio

AU - Christoph, John M.

AU - Elkins-Tanton, Linda T.

AU - Jaumann, Ralf

AU - Lawrence, David J.

AU - Oran, Rona

AU - O’Rourke, Joseph G.

AU - Polansky, Carol

AU - Weiss, Benjamin P.

AU - Wieczorek, Mark

AU - Williams, David A.

PY - 2024/4

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AB - Astronomical observations indicate that asteroid (16) Psyche is a large, high-density (likely >3,400 kg·m−3), metal-rich (30–55 vol. %) asteroid. Psyche may be remnant core material or it could be a primordial, undifferentiated metal-rich object. We discuss the science objectives of the upcoming Psyche mission, which will employ three instruments (the Magnetometer, Multispectral Imager, and Gamma-Ray and Neutron Spectrometer) and will use Doppler tracking of the spacecraft to explore the asteroid. This mission will shed light on the nature and origins of metal-rich objects in the solar system and beyond, including the cores of the terrestrial planets.

KW - Psyche

KW - asteroid

KW - mission

KW - objectives

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A Post-Launch Summary of the Science of NASA's Psyche Mission

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Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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