The Psyche Gravity Investigation

• Published in: Space science reviews 2022-12, Vol.218 (8), p.57, Article 57
• Main Authors: Zuber, Maria T., Park, Ryan S., Elkins-Tanton, Linda T., Bell, J. F., Bruvold, Kristoffer N., Bercovici, David, Bills, Bruce G., Binzel, Richard P., Jaumann, R., Marchi, Simone, Raymond, Carol A., Roatsch, T., Wang, Charles C., Weiss, Benjamin P., Wenkert, Daniel, Wieczorek, Mark A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Accuracy; Aerospace Technology and Astronautics; Asteroids; Astrophysics and Astroparticles; Earth Sciences; Electric communication systems; Gravity; Hypothesis testing; Magnetic measurement; Mass distribution; Moon; Orbits; Physics; Physics and Astronomy; Planetology; Radial distribution; Radiation; Science; Sciences of the Universe; Space Exploration and Astronautics; Space Sciences (including Extraterrestrial Physics; Spacecraft; Spherical harmonics; Superhigh frequencies; Topography
• ISSN: 0038-6308; 1572-9672
• DOI: 10.1007/s11214-022-00905-3

The objective of the NASA Psyche mission gravity science investigation is to map the mass distribution within asteroid (16) Psyche to elucidate interior structure and to resolve the question of whether this metal-rich asteroid represents a remnant metal core or whether it is a primordial body that never melted. Measurements of gravity will be obtained via the X-band telecommunication system on the Psyche spacecraft, collected from progressively lower mapping altitudes. Orbital gravity will allow an estimate of G M to better than 0.001 km 3  s −2 . A spherical harmonic model of gravity to degree and order 10 will be achievable and, in concert with spherical harmonic data sets from topography and magnetometry, as well as surface composition data, will provide information regarding the spatial and radial distribution of mass that will be used to constrain the origin and evolution of (16) Psyche.