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For the NASA Psyche spacecraft, “It’s now ‘pedal to the metal’ to the asteroid Psyche."

5 months after the gravity-assist flyby of Mars, the electric Hall-effect thrusters are now operating continuously, except for short periods for inspection, to gradually accelerate Psyche for rendezvous with asteroid 16 Psyche in August 2029.

https://science.nasa.gov/blogs/psyche/2026/10/22/pedal-to-the-metal-nasas-psyche-heads-toward-asteroid-belt/
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1. Solar system map with location of Psyche and asteroid 16 asteroid
Source: https://eyes.nasa.gov/apps/solar-system/#/sc_psyche

2. Graphic of the trajectory and timeline of the Psyche spacecraft over its 8 year mission
Source: https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/press-kits/psyche/mission/

NASA SciencePedal to the Metal: NASA’s Psyche Heads Toward Asteroid Belt - NASA ScienceWith a successful Mars gravity assist in its rearview mirror, NASA’s Psyche spacecraft has fired up its thrusters and is accelerating to the metal-rich

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Oct 22, 2026 · 22:34 UTC

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AkaSci 🛰️@[email protected]

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For more info on Hall-effect thrusters and the NASA Psyche mission, check out this earlier thread.
https://fosstodon.org/@AkaSci/114433840663856994
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❞ Quoted postAkaSci 🛰️

Hall-effect thrusters work by ionizing atoms of a gas like Xenon, accelerating them to high speeds and expelling them to generate a gentle steady thrust. Electrons emitted by the cathode circulate around an annular ceramic channel guided by a magnetic field. Xenon atoms, injected

1. Images of the Maxar SPT-140 Hall-effect thruster (HET)
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/images/pia24030-psyches-hall-thruster/

2. Diagram showing components of an HET
https://htx.pppl.gov/thrusters.html

3. Still from video showing animation of the operation of an HET.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAfjmGMp43w

FosstodonAkaSci 🛰️ (@[email protected])Attached: 1 image Hall-effect thrusters work by ionizing atoms of a gas like Xenon, accelerating them to high speeds and expelling them to generate a gentle steady thrust. Electrons emitted by the cathode circulate around an annular ceramic channel guided by a magnetic field. Xenon atoms, injected along the anode, get ionized by the high energy electrons.The ionized Xenon plasma is accelerated a

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