In a week, there will be a (virtual) meeting to handle the handling of results from the GRNS (Gamma Ray/Neutron Spectrometer) instrument on the Psyche mission. The Psyche probe, like Dawn before it, carries a high-energy spectrometer to measure elemental compositions at the target asteroids. The enrichment or depletion of certain key elements then indicates processes in the formation of asteroid (16) Psyche, and therefore conditions in the early Solar System and processes on metal bodies.This GRNS instrument was turned on early in the mission’s cruise phase, and has not just been calibrated, but is collecting gamma observations in free space (i. e., gamma-ray bursts).
The meeting announcement, courtesy of Planetary Science News:
ONLINE WEBINAR TO DISCUSS PSYCHE GRNS DATA IN THE NASA PLANETARY DATA SYSTEM
The first set of cruise data from the Psyche Gamma-Ray and Neutron Spectrometer (GRNS) has been made publicly available through NASA’s Planetary Data System (PDS):
https://arcnav.psi.edu/urn:nasa:pds:psyche.qqgrs
https://arcnav.psi.edu/urn:nasa:pds:psyche.ns
https://arcnav.psi.edu/urn:nasa:pds:psyche.mission
In addition to its utility to understand GRNS operation prior to arrival at asteroid (16) Psyche in 2029, these data provide useful information about the charged particle environment around the Psyche spacecraft, as well as detections of galactic gamma-ray bursts. To provide the scientific community additional information (what these data measure; how to access; limitations, etc.), and an opportunity to ask questions about these data, the Psyche GRNS team will hold an online webinar on Thursday August 28, 2025 at 4pm EDT (1pm PDT). Information about the webinar, including a meeting link, will be posted at the following location:
https://psyche.ssl.berkeley.edu/event/psyche-grns-data-webinar/
All who are interested in accessing and working with these data are encouraged to attend. Learn more about the Psyche GRNS at:
https://www.jhuapl.edu/destinations/instruments/psyche-grns
David Lawrence
Psyche GRNS Instrument Lead, John Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory