为灵神星小行星探测器发射做准备

A SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket with the Psyche spacecraft onboard is seen as it is rolled out of the horizontal integration facility on Oct. 10, 2023, at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida as preparations continue for the Psyche mission. NASA’s Psyche spacecraft will travel to a metal-rich asteroid by the same name orbiting the Sun between Mars and Jupiter to study its composition. The spacecraft also carries the agency’s Deep Space Optical Communications technology demonstration, which will test laser communications beyond the Moon.

If all goes as planned, asteroid Psyche’s gravity will capture the spacecraft in late July 2029, and Psyche will begin its prime mission in August. It will spend about two years orbiting the asteroid to take pictures, map the surface, and collect data to determine Psyche’s composition.

NASA and SpaceX are targeting Friday, Oct. 13, 2023, at 10:19 a.m. EDT for launch from Kennedy Space Center. Watch the launch on NASA TV.

Image Credit: NASA/Aubrey Gemignani

2023年10月10日，在NASA位于佛罗里达州的肯尼迪航天中心，一枚载有灵神星小行星探测器的SpaceX猎鹰重型火箭被推出水平集成设施，为灵神星任务继续做准备。NASA的灵神星小行星探测器将前往火星和木星之间绕太阳运行的一颗富含金属的同名小行星，以研究其成分。该探测器还携带该机构的深空光通信技术演示，该技术将测试月球以外的激光通信。

如果一切按计划进行，小行星灵神星的引力将在2029年7月下旬捕获探测器，灵神星探测器将在8月开始其主要任务。它将花大约两年的时间绕小行星飞行，拍摄照片，绘制表面地图，并收集数据以确定灵神星的组成。

NASA和SpaceX计划于美国东部时间2023年10月13日星期五上午10点19分从肯尼迪航天中心发射。在NASA TV上观看这次发射。

影像来源：NASA/Aubrey Gemignani