NASA resorts to secondary fuel line following malfunction in Psyche spacecraft's thruster system.
NASA's Psyche spacecraft, on a mission to explore a unique metallic asteroid, has faced a setback due to a glitch in its propulsion system. Launched in October 2023, the spacecraft is now navigating a challenge that could potentially jeopardize its journey.
In early April 2025, engineers detected an unexpected decrease in fuel pressure in the spacecraft's propulsion system. This issue needed immediate resolution to avoid affecting the spacecraft's trajectory towards the Psyche asteroid by mid-June. After thorough investigation, the team switched from the primary propellant line to a backup, as both lines are identical, according to NASA.
The Psyche spacecraft uses xenon gas, ionized and expelled by two large solar arrays, to gently propel itself. The spacecraft began firing its thrusters in May 2024, but a pressure drop in the line delivering xenon gas to the thrusters occurred just over a year later. The pressure dropped from 36 pounds per square inch (psi) to about 26 psi, according to NASA.
As a result, the team paused the four electric thrusters while they investigated the issue. Engineers found that a part inside one of the valves, responsible for managing the flow of propellant, had malfunctioned. This malfunction obstructed the flow of xenon to the thrusters.
To resolve this issue, the team switched to the backup fuel line and will command the spacecraft's thrusters to resume firing by mid-June. The mission's engineers will keep the backup line's valve in the open position to ensure propellant flow and avoid potential mechanical issues in the future.
The spacecraft is expected to make a Mars flyby in spring 2026, using the planet's gravity to slingshot it towards the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. If all goes well, the spacecraft will enter asteroid Psyche's orbit in late July 2029 and begin its mission in August of the same year.
The mission has had a tumultuous history. Originally scheduled to launch in 2022, a software issue delayed the launch until the next year. A week before its intended launch on October 5, 2023, engineers discovered an issue with the Psyche spacecraft's thrusters that could have caused overheating during its eight-year mission. As a result, the liftoff date was delayed by one week while the team resolved the issue.
Psyche is a 140-mile-wide asteroid that may be a remnant of a planetary core. If the mission is successful, it will be the first to explore an asteroid of its kind. science.nasa.gov/psyche
The Psyche spacecraft's current challenge is a testament to the unpredictability of space exploration. Despite the setbacks, NASA remains committed to pushing the boundaries of our understanding of the cosmos. The mission's successful resolution will be a significant step forward in our quest to unravel the mysteries of asteroids and our solar system's origins.
- NASA's team is currently investigating a malfunction in the Psyche spacecraft's valve, which is obstructing the flow of xenon gas to its electric thrusters.
- In an effort to resolve the issue, engineers plan to keep the backup fuel line's valve open to ensure propellant flow and avoid potential mechanical issues in the future.
- The Psyche spacecraft's mission, which aims to explore a unique metallic asteroid, faced a setback due to a glitch in its propulsion system, causing a pressure drop in the xenon gas line.
- The space-and-astronomy community looks forward to the Psyche mission's successful resolution as a significant step forward in our quest to unravel the mysteries of asteroids and our solar system's origins, demonstrating the unpredictability and perseverance required in space exploration.
