NASA plans to study an asteroid rich in rare metals sometime in the near future.
After the asteroid Nasa has planned to travel to, the mission is called Psyche.
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Officially referred to as 16 Psyche by the Rock Observatory, it orbits the Sun between Mars & Jupiter. It was discovered in the area of 170 years ago.
What is the Psyche Mission and how does it work?
In 2017, the Psyche mission was selected as part of Nasa’s Discovery Program.
The asteroid is of interest because it appears to be the exposed nickel-iron core of an early planet – and this is one of the building blocks of our solar system.
Nasa Explained further: “Deep within rocky, terrestrial planets – including Earth – scientists infer the presence of metallic cores, but these lie unreachably far below the planets’ rocky mantles and crusts.”
“Because we cannot see or measure Earth’s core directly, Psyche offers a unique window into the violent history of collisions and accretion that created terrestrial planets.”
According to the The, the asteroid is also worth an incredible $10,000 Quadrillion. Hindustan Times.
Arizona State University will be leading the mission. Nasa’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory will handle operations and navigation.
What are the goals of the mission?
Nasa has outlined many goals and objectives for Psyche’s mission.
First, we need to understand iron cores, the building block of planet formation.
A look inside the terrestrial planets (including Earth) is also on the agenda. “directly examining the interior of a differentiated body, which otherwise could not be seen.”
They also want to discover a world made up of metal and not ice.
Among the objectives are: understanding Psyche’s formation, age, and origins.
When will it be launched?
Initially, the Psyche Mision was due to launch in August 2022 and reach the space rock in 2026 – however, its timeline got pushed back.
This was due Nasa’s need to take more time to test on the spacecraft’s advanced flight software and equipment.
Psyche’s mission is to test a new technology for laser communication that encodes data using photons at near infrared wavelengths.
“Nasa takes the cost and schedule commitments of its projects and programs very seriously,” said Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, in a press statement.
“We are exploring options for the mission in the context of the Discovery Program, and a decision on the path forward will be made in the coming months”
Nasa hopes the spacecraft will be launched sometime in 2023.