Psyche Mission and Deep Space Optical Communications Animations Media Reel

Animation b-roll for media and public use. NASA’s Psyche mission, scheduled to launch in October 2023, is the first to a metal-rich asteroid (also named Psyche). Attached to Psyche is an independent NASA experiment called the Deep Space Optical Communications (DSOC) technology demonstration. This reel includes animations that help explain the Psyche spacecraft, its journey to the asteroid Psyche, and DSOC.

The first animation shows the Psyche spacecraft’s trajectory as it leaves Earth and flies close to Mars for what is called a gravity assist. Following that are animations featuring the components on Psyche with and without labels.

The animations also depict the increased data flow from DSOC, which will test high-data-rate laser communications that could be used by future NASA missions. (DSOC will not transmit Psyche data during its technology demonstration period.) Another animation shows how the DSOC transceiver attached to Psyche interacts with systems on the ground.

Psyche will launch no earlier than Oct. 12, 2023. The spacecraft will begin to orbit the asteroid Psyche in 2029.