The colossal NASA spacecraft has officially begun its journey towards the metal-rich asteroid known as Psyche, following its successful launch atop a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket earlier today. This momentous event represents the maiden voyage of a NASA science mission utilizing SpaceX’s larger rocket.

The momentous launch occurred at 10:19 AM EST from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. Approximately an hour after liftoff, the Psyche spacecraft gracefully detached from the rocket’s upper stage, and NASA engineers established communication with it shortly before noon.

Psyche, the spacecraft, is now poised for a momentous six-year expedition spanning 2.2 billion miles to reach Psyche, the asteroid, which is nestled within the primary asteroid belt located between Mars and Jupiter. Prior to reaching its intended destination, the spacecraft will execute a pioneering technology demonstration called the Deep Space Optical Communications experiment. If successful, this endeavor will mark the first-ever demonstration of optical communications outside the Earth-moon system.

This van-sized spacecraft is slated to arrive at Mars in May 2026, leveraging the Red Planet’s gravitational influence to propel itself towards the target asteroid. Upon arrival, Psyche will dedicate 26 months to orbiting the metal-rich asteroid, enabling the first-ever comprehensive examination of a space object boasting a metallic surface. The spacecraft will capture multispectral images, create detailed surface maps, and analyze the asteroid’s chemical and mineral composition. In addition to these tasks, the spacecraft is equipped with various instruments, including a radio antenna and a spectrometer, for the purpose of scrutinizing the asteroid’s gravitational field and high-energy particles.

NASA’s Launch Services Program, which serves as a matchmaker of sorts, expertly pairing spacecraft with the most suitable launch vehicles, opted for the Falcon Heavy after categorizing the Psyche mission as a “Category 3” endeavor. To meet NASA’s certification requirements, a launch vehicle must possess a “significant flight history” to qualify for such missions. This marks the beginning of what appears to be a long-term collaboration, as Falcon Heavy is scheduled to play a pivotal role in numerous upcoming missions. In 2024, it will launch a geostationary weather satellite and the Europa Clipper mission, destined for one of Jupiter’s moons.

For this remarkable launch, NASA awarded SpaceX a contract worth approximately $131 million. However, the overall mission is projected to cost NASA well over $1.2 billion.