The planet Jupiter is by far the largest in the entire solar system, and scientists are constantly trying to discover all its secrets, because there are still many unknowns about it. The planet Jupiter is not the only target of scientists, they are looking very carefully at what is happening near it, and now they want to send the first 100% electric space probe into the asteroid belt between the planet and Mars.
The planet Jupiter is targeted by this mission even from NASA, it has the name Psyche, and its purpose is probably to demonstrate that space probes with electric propulsion are possible. The name was chosen based on an asteroid with the same name, it is in orbit between the planet Jupiter and Mars, and its journey through the solar system around the sun lasts no less than 5 years, so NASA wants to know more about he and not only.
Planet Jupiter: The INCREDIBLE announcement, what was thought impossible
The planet Jupiter has a lot of asteroids that are between it and Mars, but this one named Psyche also has an unusual composition, being mostly made of metals, something that NASA is interested in exploring. The space probe will get close to this asteroid to analyze it, but most likely it will also get close to others to collect information about them, and the planet Jupiter would still be observed from a distance.
"Even at the beginning, when we were designing the first mission in 2012, we were talking about solar electric propulsion as part of the plan. Without her, we wouldn't have the Psyche mission. And it became part of the character of the mission. It takes a specialized team to calculate trajectories and orbits using solar electric propulsion.”
The planet Jupiter still has another space probe near it, Juno being sent to analyze the moons orbiting the planet, and it will remain there for another series of years, according to NASA. The data that this new space probe will collect will also be used by those from NASA to explain more of the mysteries that exist on the planet Jupiter, and all because we are still far from being able to send people there.
The planet Jupiter will not be explored very soon even if there is great interest in finding out more of its secrets, but its atmosphere is a very big impediment to exploration.
