NASA’s Psyche mission aimed at exploring a metallic asteroid will include an innovative Deep Space Optical Communications (DSOC) system. Image courtesy: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU
The video series “Unveiling the Team Behind NASA’s Psyche Mission” provides short visual narratives that introduce the individuals who have been instrumental in making the forthcoming voyage to a metal-abundant asteroid feasible.
What drives a person to devote years to building something that will eventually be launched into space, never to return to Earth? For the multidisciplinary team behind NASA’s Psyche mission to explore a metal-enriched asteroid, the motivations are diverse yet unified by a shared enthusiasm for probing the uncharted.
Featured in a new video series by NASA named “Unveiling the Team Behind NASA’s Psyche Mission” are members of the Psyche mission, including Luis Dominguez, Christina Hernandez, Meena Sreekantamurthy, Julie Li, and Ben Inouye. Image courtesy: NASA
This impetus for exploration is emphasized in the new video series, where five members of the Psyche team narrate their individual journeys that led them to participate in a mission designed to unlock the enigma of the asteroid Psyche.
Watch the Series Trailer:
The series introduces engineers involved in the construction of NASA’s Psyche mission, which is slated for an October launch and will travel a distance of 2.2 billion miles (3.6 billion kilometers) to an asteroid also named Psyche. Image courtesy: NASA
Christina Hernandez, an avionic systems engineer at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, played a key role in the mission’s verification and validation phases to prepare the spacecraft for the harsh conditions of outer space. Hernandez views her role as a way to transform science fiction into reality, and as a fan of heavy metal, she is particularly enthusiastic about the mission to a metallic celestial body.
Meena Sreekantamurthy, an electrical engineer specializing in power electronics at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, was responsible for the power supply module of one of the spacecraft’s scientific instruments. Sreekantamurthy, who engages in painting and drawing during her leisure time, finds it awe-inspiring that a creation of her own hands will travel to the asteroid belt.
Ben Inouye, an engineer who was part of the team that conceptualized and assembled the spacecraft’s power system, previously worked as a marine engineer. He draws parallels between the discoveries made in marine exploration and the potential revelations of the Psyche mission.
Julie Li supervised the creation of the spacecraft’s advanced solar-electric propulsion hardware at Maxar Technologies. Having aspired to be an astronaut as a child, she initiated her career as a design engineer for NASA’s space shuttle. Today, Li is not only a spacecraft builder but also an enthusiast for outdoor activities.
Luis Dominguez is the lead for systems and electrical assembly, testing, and launch operations at JPL for the mission. Dominguez, who had never envisioned a career in engineering while growing up, encourages young people to nurture their innate curiosity. Dominguez’s featured video will also be available in Spanish.
Upcoming Live Streams and Broadcasts
Created by NASA 360, new episodes of the video series will be made public every Tuesday. The initial episode was released on August 22. JPL will organize livestream events featuring Julie Li at 1 p.m. EDT (10 a.m. PDT) on September 13 and Luis Dominguez at 1 p.m. EDT (10 a.m. PDT) on September 20 on multiple platforms such as YouTube, Facebook, and X. Questions can be submitted during the livestream chats.
Scheduled Launch Details
The Psyche spacecraft is prepared to lift off on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center at 10:38 a.m. EDT (7:38 a.m. PDT) on October 5, with alternative launch windows available through October 25.
Further Mission Insights
Measuring roughly 173 miles (279 kilometers) at its widest, the asteroid Psyche could either be a fragmented core of a planetesimal—one of the rudimentary building blocks of rocky planets—or a primordial material that has remained unaltered. The key aim of the Psyche mission is to distinguish between these scenarios. Additionally, the mission will contribute to our understanding of Earth’s metallic core and the origins of our solar system. Upon reaching the asteroid Psyche in 2029, the spacecraft is planned to undertake a 26-month observational period, capturing visuals and gathering data to enrich our comprehension of the celestial body.
Table of Contents
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about NASA’s Psyche Mission
What is the primary focus of the article?
The primary focus of the article is to provide an overview of NASA’s Psyche mission to a metal-rich asteroid and to introduce a new video series that profiles the individuals—engineers, scientists, and technicians—behind the mission.
What is the Psyche mission aiming to explore?
The Psyche mission aims to explore a metallic asteroid, also named Psyche. The primary objective is to determine whether the asteroid is a fragmented core of a planetesimal or primordial material that has remained unaltered.
Who are the key personnel involved in the Psyche mission?
The key personnel include Christina Hernandez, an avionic systems engineer; Meena Sreekantamurthy, an electrical engineer specializing in power electronics; Ben Inouye, an engineer who worked on the spacecraft’s power system; Julie Li, who supervised the creation of the spacecraft’s advanced solar-electric propulsion hardware; and Luis Dominguez, the lead for systems and electrical assembly, testing, and launch operations.
What is the Deep Space Optical Communications (DSOC) system?
The Deep Space Optical Communications (DSOC) system is an innovative package that will be included in the Psyche spacecraft. Although the article does not go into detail about DSOC, it implies that the system is revolutionary for deep-space communications.
When is the Psyche mission scheduled to launch?
The Psyche mission is scheduled to lift off on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket on October 5, with alternative launch windows available through October 25.
How will the public be updated about the mission?
The public will be updated through a video series titled “Unveiling the Team Behind NASA’s Psyche Mission,” which will be released weekly on Tuesdays. Additionally, livestream events featuring key personnel will be hosted by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
What is the mission’s long-term objective upon reaching the asteroid?
Upon its scheduled arrival at the asteroid Psyche in 2029, the spacecraft will embark on a 26-month observational period. It will capture images and collect data to enhance our understanding of the asteroid, Earth’s metallic core, and the origins of our solar system.
More about NASA’s Psyche Mission
- NASA’s Official Psyche Mission Page
- Deep Space Optical Communications (DSOC) Overview
- NASA 360 Video Channel
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory Livestream Events
- SpaceX Falcon Heavy Launch Schedule
- Maxar Technologies Overview
- Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory Research Projects
5 comments
Wow, this is incredible! Psyche mission’s gonna be a game changer for sure. Can’t wait to see those videos and learn about the people behind the mission.
it’s amazing to think that something being built now won’t even reach its destination till 2029. The planning and dedication involved is just mind-blowing.
Seriously, exploring a metal asteroid? Thats like something out of a sci-fi movie. Kudos to NASA and the team, you guys are the real heroes!
DSOC system seems like a big deal, wish the article talked more about it though. Seems like its a game-changer for deep space comms.
Christina Hernandez sounds like a rockstar, balancing engineering and a passion for heavy metal. How cool is that? Always great to see engineers in the limelight.