Orbit Details
orbit A
Duration:
56 days / 41 Orbits
Mission Focus: Characterization
Observe physical properties of the asteroid
Instruments Used:
Psyche Multispectral Imager
How It Will Be Used:
To Provide high-resolution images using filters to discriminate between Psyche’s metallic and silicate constituents
Where You Can Find It On The Craft:
consists of a pair of identical cameras designed to acquire geologic, compositional, and topographic data. Located at the front of the craft
orbit B
Duration:
80 days / 169 orbits
Mission Focus: Topography
Study the forms and features of land surfaces
Instruments Used:
Gamma-Ray and Neutron Spectrometer
How It Will Be Used:
Detect, Measure, and Map Psyche’s Elemental Composition
Where You Can Find It On The Craft:
orbit C
Duration:
100 days / 362 orbits
Mission Focus: Gravity science
Study the strength of the gravitational field of the asteroid
Instruments Used:
Psyche Magnetometer
How It Will Be Used:
Detect and Measure the Remanent Magnetic Field of the Asteroid
Where You Can Find It On The Craft:
Composed of two identical high-sensitivity magnetic field sensors located at the middle and outer end of a 6-foot (2-meter) boom
orbit D
Duration:
100 days / 684 orbits
Mission Focus: Elemental Mapping
Determine the chemical composition of the surface
Instruments Used:
Deep Space Optical Communication
How It Will Be Used:
Sophisticated new laser communication technology that will encodes data in photons (rather than radio waves) to communicate between a probe in deep space and Earth.
Using light instead of radio allows the spacecraft to communicate more data in a given amount of time.