NASA’s Psyche Probe Captures Earth and Moon Image from 180 Million Miles
July 2025 – NASA’s Psyche spacecraft has successfully captured images of Earth and the Moon from a distance of approximately 180 million miles (290 kilometers) during imager instrument calibration tests. The images, released this week, demonstrate the probe’s capabilities as it prepares for its primary mission to study the metal-rich asteroid Psyche.
Scientists selected Earth and the Moon as calibration targets because, like Psyche, they reflect sunlight - a key factor for the imager’s functionality. The tests allow the team to identify and correct for any potential drifts in the instrument’s sensitivity.
“We’re sort of collecting solar system ‘trading cards’ from these different bodies and running them through our calibration pipeline to make sure we’re getting the right answers,” said Michael Bell, a member of the Psyche mission team.
The calibration process involves repeated trials and running data through a software pipeline to ensure consistent results. This will allow operators to optimize exposure times and filter settings before beginning the mapping phase of the mission.
The Psyche mission is scheduled to perform a Mars flyby in 2026 for further testing and rehearsal of approach procedures. Upon arrival at the asteroid Psyche in 2029, the spacecraft will begin months of mapping at varying altitudes to gather data on the asteroid’s composition, texture, and magnetic history.
The mission, a collaboration between NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Arizona State University, aims to provide insights into the formation and evolution of metal worlds.
Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU
