NASA has been eagerly anticipating the launch of a new spacecraft to explore the asteroid Psyche, which is known for its high concentration of metal. After a one-year delay, it is now expected that a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket will finally launch the craft into space on October 5th.
The launch was initially delayed in 2022 due to a software glitch, and it was not possible to reschedule until this year after the launch window expired in October. Nonetheless, NASA remains committed to the mission and is excited to gather valuable data from the asteroid.
The asteroid, officially named 16 Psyche, has a unique shape resembling a potato and measures 173 miles (280 kilometers) in diameter at its widest point. While scientists are still debating its exact composition, NASA believes that it may consist of up to 60% iron-nickel metals. This unusually high proportion has led some experts to theorize that Psyche could be a remnant of an ancient planet’s core.
Although NASA does not have plans to mine the asteroid, the data collected during the mission could provide insights into its potential value. Some estimates suggest that Psyche’s value could be as high as an astonishing $10,000 quadrillion.
While the primary focus of the mission is to study Psyche, NASA and other scientists involved are also interested in using the opportunity to learn more about Earth’s core. Psyche’s proximity to our planet, coupled with its inaccessibility, makes it an ideal target for gaining insights into our own core.
Psyche is not a near-Earth asteroid and orbits between Mars and Jupiter. It will take the Psyche spacecraft six years to travel 2.5 billion miles (4 billion kilometers) to reach its destination. During the journey, the spacecraft will also test advanced laser communications technology in deep space for the first time. This optical communications system has the potential to transmit data at rates 10 to 100 times higher than current radio systems, opening the possibility of streaming video and laying the groundwork for a future interplanetary broadband network for missions to Mars.
As of last week, NASA confirmed that the Psyche spacecraft has completed testing and is fully fueled and ready for launch. The agency, in collaboration with SpaceX, has set the launch for 10:34 a.m. EDT (7:34 a.m. PDT) on October 5th from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. In the event of further delays, there are other launch opportunities available within the current window until October 25th.
The launch will be livestreamed by NASA and SpaceX, allowing the public to witness this exciting mission.
