Pasadena, California — NASA’s Psyche spacecraft has resumed its propulsion activities, marking a significant milestone in its journey toward a metal-rich asteroid. After experiencing a brief suspension due to a drop in pressure in its propulsion system earlier this year, engineers successfully restored functionality, allowing the spacecraft to continue its path through the solar system.
In April 2025, the Psyche mission faced an unexpected challenge that halted its thruster operations. The drop in pressure raised alarms, prompting the engineering team to investigate the issue. Their analysis pointed to a malfunction in the primary xenon line, essential for the spacecraft’s electric propulsion system. Unable to repair the primary line in safe conditions, engineers quickly made the decision to activate an identical backup system already integrated into the spacecraft.
On June 16, the switch to the backup xenon line was successful, and the electric propulsion system returned to operation. This restoration allows Psyche to continue its trajectory toward a critical gravity-assist flyby of Mars planned for May 2026, a key maneuver that will boost its velocity en route to the asteroid belt.
“Sustaining propulsion with consistent performance is vital for the mission,” said Bob Mase, the project manager at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. He praised his team’s systematic approach to diagnosing the problem and efficiently executing the switch to the backup system, emphasizing the robustness of its engineering design.
The Psyche spacecraft employs an electric propulsion system powered by ionized xenon gas, which provides a steady thrust necessary for long-duration spaceflight. Unlike traditional rockets, these efficient thrusters allow the spacecraft to gradually build momentum—critical for navigating deep space. The recent operational switch underscores the importance of redundancy in spacecraft design, illustrating NASA’s philosophy of anticipating potential failings and embedding solutions within mission architecture.
Despite the brief setback, Psyche remains on course to arrive at its asteroid target by August 2029. The asteroid, believed to be the metallic core of a protoplanet, holds clues about the early solar system and the formation of rocky planets like Earth. Once in orbit, the spacecraft will conduct an in-depth investigation of the asteroid’s surface, magnetic field, and composition.
With propulsion restored, the mission team can focus on preparing for the scientific phase of the mission without the worry of major trajectory adjustments. The successful recovery from this engineering challenge not only highlights the depth of the team’s expertise but also reinforces the resilience built into the spacecraft’s design.
As Psyche journeys farther into the solar system, the collaboration and adaptability of the engineering team shine through. Their efforts have transformed a potential setback into an opportunity to refine mission protocols and enhance understanding of complex spacecraft systems. The mission stands as a testament to NASA’s commitment to exploration, innovation, and the relentless pursuit of knowledge in the cosmos.