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NASA Sets Coverage for Psyche Spacecraft Launch to Metal World
NASA will provide coverage of the upcoming prelaunch and launch activities for its Psyche mission to a metal-rich asteroid. Launch is targeted for 10:16 a.m. EDT Thursday, Oct. 12, on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Prior to launch, NASA will hold a mission and science briefing at 12 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 10, and a prelaunch news conference at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 11. Watch coverage on NASA TV, the NASA app, and the agency’s website at:
Attached to the Psyche spacecraft is a technology demonstration, NASA’s Deep Space Optical Communications. This experiment will test the ability of lasers to transmit data at increased rates beyond the Moon. High-bandwidth optical communications to Earth will be tested during the first two years of the spacecraft’s journey to Psyche. While the optical communications demonstration is hosted by Psyche, its transceiver will not relay Psyche mission data.
Full coverage of this mission is as follows (all times Eastern):
Tuesday, Oct. 10
9:30 a.m. – One-on-one media interviews at Kennedy with various mission subject-matter experts. Sign-up information will be emailed to media accredited to attend this launch in person.
12 p.m. – Psyche Mission and Science Briefing on NASA TV with the following participants:
* Lori Glaze, Planetary Science Division director, NASA Headquarters
* Lindy Elkins-Tanton, Psyche principal investigator, Arizona State University
* Ben Weiss, Psyche deputy principal investigator and magnetometer lead, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
* David Oh, Psyche chief engineer for operations, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)
* Abi Biswas, Deep Space Optical Communications project technologist, JPL
Wednesday, Oct. 11
1 p.m. – Psyche Prelaunch News Conference on NASA TV with the following participants:
* NASA Associate Administrator Bob Cabana
* Nicola Fox, associate administrator, NASA’s Science Mission Directorate
* Tim Dunn, senior launch director, NASA’s Launch Services Program
* Julianna Scheiman, director, Civil Satellite Missions, SpaceX
* Henry Stone, Psyche project manager, JPL
* Arlena Moses, launch weather officer, U.S. Space Force
Thursday, Oct. 12
9:15 a.m. – Live launch coverage without commentary begins on NASA TV media channel.
For NASA TV downlink information, schedules, and links to streaming video, visit:
NASA Website Launch Coverage
Launch day coverage of NASA’s Psyche mission will be available on the agency’s website. Coverage will include blog updates and livestreaming beginning no earlier than 8 a.m. Streaming video and photos of the launch will be available shortly after liftoff. Images of Psyche’s processing and launch are available online.
Follow countdown coverage on the Psyche launch blog at:
https://blogs.nasa.gov/psyche
Audio Only Coverage
Audio only of the news conferences and launch coverage will be carried on the NASA “V” circuits, which may be accessed by dialing 321-867-1220, -1240, or -7135. On launch day, “mission audio,” countdown activities without NASA TV launch commentary, will be carried on 321-867-7135 beginning at 9:15 a.m.
Attend Launch Virtually
Members of the public can register to attend the Psyche launch virtually. NASA’s virtual guest program for this mission includes curated launch resources, notifications about related opportunities or changes, and a stamp for the agency’s virtual guest passport following a successful launch.
Watch, Engage Online
