NASA’s Psyche mission, launching in 2023, is set to embark on a journey to a metal-rich world unlike any other in our solar system. After a four-year-long journey, the spacecraft is expected to arrive at its destination in 2027. Psyche is a unique mission that will explore a metal-rich asteroid, nicknamed “Psyche 16”, located in the Main Asteroid Belt between Mars and Jupiter. Psyche is believed to be the exposed core of an early planet, making it a one-of-a-kind world that scientists have been eager to explore.

The mission will focus on studying the composition and structure of Psyche 16, which is believed to be composed mostly of iron and nickel. This metal-rich composition is in stark contrast to other asteroids that are composed mostly of rock and ice. By studying Psyche 16, scientists hope to gain a better understanding of how planets form and evolve over time. Additionally, the mission will provide a unique opportunity to study the properties of metal-rich planets and their potential to host life.

Read Full Article Here

source: Phys.org