SpaceX successfully launched NASA’s Psyche spacecraft into the midmorning sky from the Kennedy Space Center. Psyche, aptly named after the asteroid it is destined to explore, is expected to reach the massive, potato-shaped celestial body in 2029.
On Friday, NASA’s Psyche spacecraft embarked on a groundbreaking six-year voyage to a unique asteroid cloaked in rare metal. Unlike typical rocky or icy asteroids, this celestial body represents the first exploration of a metallic world. Scientists speculate that it might be the remnants of a primordial planet’s core, offering valuable insights into the enigmatic interiors of Earth and other rocky planets that have long been beyond our reach.
SpaceX successfully launched the spacecraft from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center into the midmorning sky. The mission, named after the asteroid it’s targeting, Psyche, aims to reach the colossal, potato-shaped object in 2029.
After years of exploring distant worlds composed of rock, ice, and gas, NASA is now thrilled to investigate one made entirely of metal. Among the approximately nine metal-rich asteroids identified, Psyche stands out as the largest. It orbits the sun in the outer region of the main asteroid belt, situated between Mars and Jupiter, surrounded by millions of other celestial bodies. Psyche was first spotted in 1852 and derived its name from the enchanting goddess of the soul in Greek mythology.
Scientists have long dreamed of exploring Earth’s metal core, but the extreme pressure and temperature make it impossible. However, lead scientist Lindy Elkins-Tanton from Arizona State University suggests that a solution lies in studying a massive asteroid in our solar system, which is believed to be rich in iron, nickel, and other metals. Measuring about 144 miles wide and 173 miles long, this asteroid might also contain silicates and possibly precious elements like gold or platinum. As the spacecraft travels over 2 billion miles, scientists anticipate discovering unknown features like spiky metal craters and cliffs, although the reality could surpass their wildest imaginations.
The asteroid, thought to be a crucial building block from the solar system’s formation 4.5 billion years ago, holds the potential to address fundamental inquiries, such as the origins of life on Earth and the factors that render our planet habitable, as stated by Elkins-Tanton.
Here on Earth, our magnetic field, generated by the planet’s iron core, plays a vital role in shielding our atmosphere, making life possible.
Arizona State University, leading a $1.2 billion NASA mission, will navigate a circuitous path to reach an asteroid. The spacecraft, the size of a van and equipped with tennis court-sized solar panels, will swing by Mars in 2026 for a gravity boost. Three years later, it aims to enter orbit around the asteroid, circling at distances between 47 to 440 miles until at least 2031. Propelled by xenon gas-fed thrusters, it also carries an experimental communication system using lasers, promising a significant data boost from deep space to Earth. Originally planned for 2026, delays pushed the arrival to 2029, coinciding with another NASA spacecraft’s arrival at a different asteroid after returning samples to Earth.