NASA's Probe Psyche Embarks on a Unique Journey to a Metal Asteroid

NASA’s probe Psyche has embarked on an unprecedented journey to explore one of the most unique objects in the Solar System, an asteroid named 16 Psyche. This asteroid is believed to be made up of approximately 60% iron and nickel. It is speculated that 16 Psyche could be the remnant core of a planet-like object stripped of its outer rocky layers.

Departure from Cape Canaveral

The launch of Psyche took place from Cape Canaveral, Florida. A Falcon-Heavy rocket carried the spacecraft into space at exactly 10:19:43 local time. The probe is expected to travel a distance of 3.5 billion km (2.2 billion miles) over a period of six years to reach its destination, located between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter.

Distinctive Features of 16 Psyche

Of the estimated 1.5 million asteroids in the Solar System, only nine have properties similar to 16 Psyche, making it a unique celestial body. Furthermore, with a width of 280km (175 miles) at its widest point, 16 Psyche is the largest among its similar counterparts.

First Human Exploration of a Metal World

When Psyche arrives at the asteroid in August 2029, it will orbit at various distances to map the metal world’s shape and analyze its internal structure and composition. As stated by the principal investigator Prof Lindy Elkins-Tanton from Arizona State University, this mission will provide humans with their first look at a type of world they’ve never seen before.

Unraveling the Mysterious Surface of 16 Psyche

The pictures from the mission are expected to be fascinating. Over time, the small, high-speed micrometeoroids zooming around in space might have given the metal objects on 16 Psyche a spiky appearance. These impacts could have also created a type of metal sand covering the asteroid’s surface. While the object is dominated by iron and nickel, telescopes have identified additional elements, potentially including yellowish-green, sulfur-rich rocks. One intriguing feature could be the presence of metal cliffs formed as 16 Psyche cooled and cracked over the 4.6-billion-year lifespan of the Solar System.

Two Leading Theories About 16 Psyche

According to deputy principal investigator Ben Weiss, there are two leading theories about the origin of 16 Psyche. The first suggests that the asteroid is the core of a body similar to the molten metallic center of Earth, which had its outer layers stripped off by asteroid impacts in the early Solar System. The second theory proposes that 16 Psyche is an unmelted primordial body, formed from the first materials in the Solar System and preserved in this state ever since.

The Future of Space Exploration

The idea of mining asteroids like 16 Psyche, which could be worth trillions of dollars as a resource, has been suggested. However, Dr. Helena Bates, a meteorite expert from London’s Natural History Museum, believes that asteroid mining would be most valuable for extending space missions.

The Psyche probe’s mission will also serve as a test for two technologies that NASA plans to utilize more in the future - electric propulsion and the use of laser beams for faster data transmission. The mission team plans to make all imagery of 16 Psyche publicly available within half an hour of its arrival on Earth.