Space Science Reviews comes through again. Now up (vol. 221) is a detailed (!) paper on the two optical imaging instruments (“cameras”) of the Psyche mission:
Bell, J.F., Ravine, M.A., Caplinger, M.A. et al. The Psyche Multispectral Imager Investigation: Characterizing the Geology, Topography, and Multispectral Properties of a Metal-Rich World Art. 47 s11214-025-01169-3
Of course, the Psyche probe launched over a year ago; this paper includes in-flight calibrations, such as test shots and noise performance. Not that this was seriously in doubt; the camera design is similar to many previous missions (“flight heritage”). And as an orbiter (unlike, say, Lucy) this mission will have the schedule flexibility to take shots at leisure. It is only the highest-res images (shot from the closest orbit around the asteroid) that are constrained. Lower and lower orbit means smaller and smaller footprints on the surface, and higher ground speed. Assembling a highest-res image mosaic of the asteroid surface is then time-limited. (We’ll have to see if there’s an extended mission.)
Still, we don’t take things for granted. This is a one-of-a-kind, costly project, and any shortfalls in the instruments or other systems become irreplaceable. Even then, the cameras were built dually-redundant (as on Dawn). Because the cameras are also used for navigation, failure would end the mission. Building and flying two, parallel cameras provides flight assurance; they also increase coverage of the surface (as they can shoot in parallel, not just as cold spares).
Give the paper a read if you want to know more than you wanted to know about Psyche’s cameras.