The NASA Psyche mission is delayed again. This time, the spaceflight that will focus on the metal asteroid called Psyche will no longer blast off before mid-2023.
(Photo : Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
The NASA logo is displayed at the agency's booth during CES 2018 at the Las Vegas Convention Center on January 11, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. CES, the world's largest annual consumer technology trade show.
The forced delay extension had to be done since the software issues remain. The mission's managers confirmed this detail during their livestream news conference on Friday, June 24.
"Due to the late delivery of the spacecraft's flight software and testing equipment, NASA does not have sufficient time to complete the testing needed ahead of its remaining launch period this year," said the international space union via its official press release.
NASA Psyche Mission Delayed, Again
NASA explained that they need more time to ensure that the software will function properly before the Psyche mission launches into space.
(Photo : Photo by PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images)
The Psyche spacecraft is prepared inside a clean room at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California, on April 11, 2022. - Psyche will launch from Cape Canaveral, Florida.
As of writing, the space agency said there are still some launch date options between 2023 and 2024. The earliest one would be on July 2023.
Of course, the delay will also affect the arrival of NASA's Psyche spacecraft on its metal asteroid destination. If the space agency can send the rocket as early as 2022, it can reach Psyche around 2026.
But, since there is another delay, the spacecraft is estimated to reach the asteroid around 2029 or 2030, which is a four-year difference.
Is cancellation Another Option?
According to Space.Com's latest report, cancellation is among the options for NASA. Lori Glaze, director of NASA's planetary science division at the agency's headquarters in Washington, confirmed this information.
If this is true, then the international space agency will waste around $717 million. As of press time, NASA hasn't provided its final decision.
Glaze said that they would have a continuation or termination review, which will check the recommendations put forward by the project.
He added that the assessment would focus on the implications for the planetary portfolio, the Discovery project, and the Psyche mission.
Meanwhile, the NASA Curiosity rover captured new images of Mars' changing landscape.
On the other hand, the NASA SLS wet dress rehearsal is finally completed.
For more news updates about NASA and its upcoming space missions, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes.
Related Article: NASA Psyche Mission's Metal Asteroid Location Has Been Mapped! Here's What MIT Experts Discovered
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Written by: Griffin Davis
