Propulsion System Issue
's Psyche spacecraft, en route to a metal-rich asteroid, encountered a propulsion system problem, leading to the shutdown of its thrusters due to a decrease in fuel pressure. The pressure dropped from 36 psi to 26 psi in the xenon fuel line feeding the thrusters.
Engineers are investigating the issue and considering switching to a backup fuel line to resume thrusting. The spacecraft can remain unpowered until mid-June without affecting its trajectory.
Mission Background and Response
The , aiming to explore a unique asteroid that may be the core of a shattered planetesimal, faced delays before launch due to software and thruster issues. Despite these challenges, NASA remains optimistic about the mission's trajectory and plans.
NASA emphasizes the importance of redundancy in its missions, with officials expressing no immediate concerns over the propulsion system issue. The spacecraft's next major milestone is a flyby of in spring 2026.