A NASA spacecraft, moving at 40,265 mph, momentarily captured a photograph of Earth while it traveled away. The Psyche mission, named after the target, is en route to a metal-rich asteroid situated between Mars and Jupiter in the main asteroid belt. Although it will not arrive at the asteroid until 2029, the spacecraft is already over 180 million miles from Earth, double the distance from Earth to the sun.

The recent image, taken in July, displays Earth along with a smaller point of light that represents the moon, evoking Carl Sagan’s renowned Pale Blue Dot photograph taken by Voyager 1 in 1990. This image emphasizes the enormity of space and humanity’s diminutive role within it. The photo served as a test for the spacecraft’s cameras to capture faint objects, akin to the Psyche asteroid. Other points in the image are stars from the Aries constellation.

“We are operational, and everything is functioning well,” stated Bob Mase, NASA’s project manager for the mission. The spacecraft’s systems are performing as anticipated, a relief following engineers halting its thrusters in April due to a pressure drop from a malfunctioning valve. The team switched to a backup fuel line, enabling the spacecraft to continue its journey.

The mission’s goal is to investigate Psyche because it may consist of materials akin to Earth’s core. Asteroids are remnants from the formation of the solar system 4.6 billion years ago, and examining them could offer insights into Earth’s core and the creation of rocky planets. Arizona State University leads the mission on behalf of NASA.

Psyche is a potato-shaped asteroid, measuring 173 miles in length, 144 miles in width, and 117 miles in thickness. Its characteristics remain unknown until the spacecraft arrives. The voyage will span years, with a significant event being a Mars flyby in May 2026 to gain a gravity assist. The team intends to capture additional images throughout the journey to test the cameras. “We’re kind of amassing solar system ‘trading cards’ from these various bodies,” remarked Jim Bell, Arizona State’s imager instrument lead for the mission.