10:15 AM - 10:30 AM
[PPS02-06] Asteroid (16) Psyche: Visiting a Metal World
Keywords:Psyche, Metallic Asteroids, Space Missions
Models show that among the accretionary collisions early in the solar system, some destructive “hit and run” impacts strip the silicate mantle from differentiated bodies [6]. This is the leading hypothesis for Psyche’s formation: it is a bare planetesimal core. If our observations indicate that it is not a core, Psyche may instead be highly reduced, primordial metal-rich materials that accreted closer to the Sun.
The mission has five objectives:
1) Determine whether Psyche is a core, or if it is unmelted material;
2) Determine the relative ages of regions of its surface;
3) Determine whether small metal bodies incorporate the same light elements as are expected in the Earth’s high-pressure core;
4) Determine whether Psyche was formed under conditions more oxidizing or more reducing than Earth’s core; and
5) Characterize Psyche’s topography and impact crater morphology.
We will meet these objectives by examining Psyche with three high heritage instruments and radio science:
(i) Two block-redundant multispectral imagers (MSL Mastcam heritage) with clear and seven color filters provide surface geology, composition, and topographic information. Lead: J.F. Bell, ASU, partnering with Malin Space Science Systems, Inc.;
(ii) A gamma-ray and neutron spectrometer (MESSENGER heritage) determines the elemental composition for key elements (e.g., Fe, Ni, Si, and K) as well as compositional heterogeneity across Psyche’s surface. Lead: D.J. Lawrence, APL;
(iii) Dual fluxgate magnetometers in a gradiometer configuration characterize the magnetic field. Investigation Lead: B.P. Weiss, MIT. Development Lead: C.T. Russell, UCLA; and
(iv) Radio science will map Psyche’s gravity field using the X-band telecomm system. Lead: M.T. Zuber, MIT.
The solar-electric propulsion chassis will be built by Space Systems Loral in Palo Alto, California [10], the mission will be led by ASU and JPL will be responsible for mission management, operations, and navigation.
[1] Kuzmanoski, M. and A. Koracevic (2002) Astronomy and Astrophysics, 395, L17-L19. [2] Baer, J., et al. (2011) The Astronomical Journal, 141, 1-12. [3] Lupishko, D. F. (2006) Solar System Research, 40, 214-218. [4] Shepard, M. K., et al. (2008) Icarus, 195, 184-205. [5] Krasinsky, G. A., et al. (2002) Icarus, 158, 98-105. [6] Asphaug, E. and A. Reufer (2014) Nature Geoscience, 7, 564-568. [7] Shepard, M. K., et al. (2017) Icarus, 281, 388-403. [8] Shepard, M. K., et al. (2010) Icarus, 208, 221-237. [9] Matter, A., et al. (2013) Icarus, 226, 419-427. [10] Oh, D., et al. (2016) AIAA-2016-4541.