NASA’s Psyche spacecraft has transmitted a remarkable image of Earth from approximately 180 million miles (290 kilometers) away. The probe, launched on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket in October 2023, is en route to the metallic asteroid known as 16 Psyche, which scientists believe represents the exposed core of a former planetesimal.
During its cruise phase, the Psyche team conducted periodic testing and calibration of the spacecraft’s science instruments. On July 20 and July 23, the mission team instructed the probe to capture long-exposure images of Earth and the moon. These stunning shots reveal a unique perspective of our planet against a backdrop of stars in the constellation Aries, showcasing the brightness of Earth and its satellite due to reflected sunlight.
Testing Instruments and Future Targets
The captured images demonstrate the capabilities of Psyche’s twin cameras, particularly its multispectral imager. This technology is designed to detect various wavelengths of light, enabling scientists to analyze the spectral signatures reflected from 16 Psyche. The data gathered will be crucial for understanding the asteroid’s composition upon arrival.
According to Jim Bell, the Psyche imager instrument lead at Arizona State University in Tempe, the current imaging tests with Earth and the moon served as effective targets. “After this, we may look at Saturn or the huge asteroid Vesta to help us continue to test the imagers,” Bell stated. The imager has previously focused on other celestial bodies, including Jupiter and Mars. Bell expressed the mission’s goal of “collecting solar system ‘trading cards’ from these different bodies and running them through our calibration pipeline to make sure we’re getting the right answers.”
Psyche is currently on a trajectory towards Mars, where it will perform a gravitational slingshot maneuver in spring 2026. This maneuver will help propel the spacecraft toward its ultimate destination, the metallic asteroid 16 Psyche, with an expected arrival in 2029.
As NASA continues to explore the mysteries of our solar system, the Psyche mission stands out as a significant step towards understanding the building blocks of planetary formation. The insights gained from this mission could provide valuable information not only about 16 Psyche but also about the history of our own planet.
