NASA has published the first scientific data from the Psyche spacecraft's flyby of Mars. For DTU, the results mark an important milestone: the University's first magnetometer in outer space has now proven that it can deliver stable and precise measurements under the demanding conditions that wait for the rest of the mission.
When NASA's Psyche spacecraft flew past Mars in May, the primary aim was to gain gravitational assist to propel it further towards the asteroid belt. However, the flyby also gave the mission's scientists a unique opportunity to test all the instruments under realistic conditions.
For DTU, the flyby was the first major scientific test of the magnetometer that the university has developed for the mission.
"The Mars flyby gave us the opportunity to test the instrument under significant temperature fluctuations that occurred as the spacecraft changed orientation. We were able to confirm that the temperature fluctuations did not affect the quality of the measurements. The instrument delivered precise and stable data, fully meeting the requirements we had set," says José M. G. Merayo, professor at DTU Space and responsible for the development of the magnetometer.
New measurements from a virtually unexplored region
Mars does not have a global magnetic field like Earth's, but the interaction between the planet and the Sun's charged particles creates a complex magnetic environment. The Psyche spacecraft passed through a region near Mars's north pole that only a few previous missions have investigated.
The measurements generally agree well with the researchers' models of Mars' magnetic environment but also reveal new observations. Although Mars and the asteroid Psyche are very different celestial bodies, the new measurements provide researchers with valuable experience.
When the spacecraft reaches the asteroid in 2029, one of the most important tasks will be to determine whether Psyche still bears traces of an original magnetic field. This requires researchers to be able to distinguish between magnetic signals from the asteroid itself and influences from the solar wind.
"The Mars observations have given us the opportunity to test our analysis tools on real data from a complex space environment. That experience will be crucial when we later have to interpret the measurements at Psyche and distinguish the asteroid's own magnetic signals from external influences," says José Merayo, who is also a Co-Investigator on the Psyche mission.
Built for the harsh conditions of space
DTU's magnetometer has been in operation since its launch in October 2023 and has already been exposed to temperatures ranging from around minus 105 degrees to plus 20 degrees Celsius.
At the same time, the instrument has been operating in a radiation environment that is far harsher than on Earth.
"The instrument is designed for extreme conditions, and so far, it has coped with both temperature fluctuations and radiation exposure better than expected. We have recorded fewer radiation-related incidents than anticipated, which confirms that both the instrument's design and its protection are working as intended. We will, of course, continue to monitor developments closely for the remainder of the mission," says José Merayo.
The spacecraft is now continuing its journey towards the asteroid Psyche, located between Mars and Jupiter, where it is scheduled to arrive in 2029. There, DTU's magnetometer will help determine whether the asteroid is the remnant of the core of an early planet, thereby providing new insights into the earliest development of the Solar System.
