NASA’s #MissionToPsyche – on its way to explore a rare, metal-rich asteroid – is about to get a speed boost from Mars. 🚀🏁
On May 15, spacecraft will harness the Red Planet’s gravitational pull as a slingshot to increase its speed and adjust its trajectory. 1/2
Powering the next giant leap.
A novel electromagnetic thruster that runs on lithium metal vapor was successfully fired up for the first time during initial tests at JPL.
Fully developed and paired with a nuclear power source, these thrusters could reduce launch mass and support payloads required for human Mars missions.