The Psyche asteroid mission was originally planned for October 5. However, according to a report published by Space.com, the Psyche mission will be launched on October 12 on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket.
The launch delay will allow the NASA team to complete verification of the parameters used to control the Psyche spacecraft’s nitrogen cold gas thrusters.
The change in schedule was announced the same day NASA, SpaceX and Psyche mission managers conducted a flight readiness review at Kennedy Space Center.
FIRST NASA MISSION FOR FALCON HEAVY
Psyche will be the first NASA mission for Falcon Heavy, the second most powerful rocket currently in use after NASA’s Space Launch System.
Psyche Mission will launch on October 12. If all goes as planned, the spacecraft will reach Psyche, a 170-mile-wide (280-kilometer) space rock located in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, in 2029.
It is suggested that Psyche contains large amounts of precious metals such as platinum, gold, iron and nickel. The asteroid is valued at 10 quintillion dollars.