Why Psyche is Falcon Heavy's 'Most Metal Launch Ever'

The Psyche mission is a NASA spacecraft which is going to investigate the largest M type asteroid in the solar system, M type asteroids are presumed to be metal rich, and the processes that lead to these asteroids are important in understanding the formation of the solar system.
Psyche was built by JPL using a commercial 1300 satellite bus, and launched on a Falcon Heavy on Friday the 13th.

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[adrianealmiranez]

Worked on the thermal blankets for Psyche during my time at Maxar(Space systems Loral). Super happy to see the closeup shots of the thermal blankets in this video! It was a strange program in that the satellite spent a lot of time at JPL TVAC chamber and we were shipping thermal blankets there instead of installing them ourselves in our own high bay. This led to several funny stories; one where blankets would get lost and found in an unopened box to which JPL said they would not open unless we send them instructions on how to open the box!

[JohnSmith-cbqx]

It'd be awesome if you made a video on how artists impressions of celestial bodies have compared to the real thing. Especially going way back to the dawn of the space era.

[Chris__K]

The runtime of this video is 13 minutes and 13 seconds on friday 13th 😱

[omgdontstealvids]

I saw this launch in person!! It was absolutely incredible, my first time watching a launch after moving to Florida. The noise was incredible, made my car windows shake too.

[rodmofo]

Worked on this mission as a supplier for JPL! Once in a lifetime experience. 🤩

[rosswarren]

Not trying to second guess JPL, but it seems scary that such a thruster issue (exceeding thermal limits) was found so freaking late in a mission that was already a year behind schedule. Hoping no other "gotchas" show up in the next 9 years.

[joakimlindblom]

Great overview of the Psyche mission! Minor correction: 28 grams of thrust equals 1 ounce of thrust, not 2 ounces. Despite going to a heavy metal asteroid, the gram-to-ounce conversion ratio didn't change ;-)

[AndrewHillis_]

VERY EXCITING STUFF ! ! ! I HAVE BEEN WAITING A LONG TIME FOR THIS 16 PSYCHO MISSION ! ! !👍

[TwZlr.]

My son and I watched this launch. I just can't wait to remind him of it launching when he is almost 10 years old when it finally reaches it's destination orbit around this asteroid.

[fooberer]

Made it out to watch this as my first launch, it’s even more amazing to watch the boosters come back. One of the interns was nice enough to give me her Psyche lanyard, now it’s my most prized possession!

[plrpilot]

And your video time is 13:13. The launch was absolutely stunning, and that cacophony of booms on the booster returns!!!

[zra]

You say the resolution is 3ft or 10 meters... Wouldn't it be 1 meter?

[Opusss]

"Sacrifice the core booster to the dark lord of delta V." We need a Heavy Metal style movie about this

[rong]

"Space dude in his car"???
No love for Starman?
The coolest thing ever put in space!

[MCsCreations]

Thanks for all the info, Scott! 😊
Stay safe there with your family! 🖖😊

[c]

Excellent description of the gamma and neutron detectors thanks! (Nuclear physicist here.)

[richardrhodes-gcko]

Totally love your analysis And Commentary on these missions.Keep on Carrying On! :)

[Jatheus]

I was at Cocoa Beach all week, but both the Starlink and Psyche launches got pushed back to the day after I had to return to Texas. So I got to see no launches, but we did a lot of other fun stuff in Florida and got to see Space Shuttle Atlantis over at Kennedy Space Center. It was a great vacation. :0)

[Psycorde]

Dunno about you guys, but I'm psyched for this mission!

[JWalker]

Scott mentions Palomar Observatory - great place to go and visit if you live nearby or are ever in the area! Up on top of Palomar Mountain in northern San Diego County (lots of other cool stuff to see and do up there too - State park, restored / active fire tower, great views, hiking, etc.) The observatory has a great little museum out front, and you can go up stairs inside the Hale Telescope dome and view the telescope and working floor through an array of windows. On weekends during the summer months, you can also pay a small fee to go on guided tours of the working floor and see the telescope up close. Really neat...highly recommended!