NASA has launched a historic mission to Psyche, a metallic asteroid nested between Mars and Jupiter, using a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket.
Spearheaded by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the mission aims to answer foundational questions about our solar system while assessing Psyche's untapped mineral wealth, thus marrying scientific investigation with future economic prospects.
The central mission objective is to ascertain whether Psyche serves as the core of a failed planet.
To achieve this, NASA has fitted the spacecraft, also named Psyche, with a suite of cutting-edge instruments.
These include a multispectral imager and a gamma ray and neutron spectrometer, among others.
The spacecraft will utilise a solar electric propulsion system for its nearly six-year journey before settling into a 26-month orbit for scientific studies.
???????????? Let’s mosh!A @SpaceX Falcon Heavy has launched the #MissiontoPsyche spacecraft from Launch Complex 39A. The spacecraft has begun its journey to Psyche, the metal-rich asteroid located between Mars and Jupiter. pic.twitter.com/P8xd6dPwG2
— NASA's Kennedy Space Center (@NASAKennedy) October 13, 2023
What is Psyche ?
Significantly larger than most asteroids at 173 miles by 144 miles, Psyche's unique composition of metal and silicate could illuminate the early formation processes of terrestrial planets.
The asteroid's estimated value has elicited widespread interest, with financial appraisals varying dramatically from US$11.65 trillion to a staggering US$700 quintillion.
Falcon Heavy's side boosters landing back on Earth after launching the Psyche spacecraft to orbit pic.twitter.com/sOY7M8QSlC— SpaceX (@SpaceX) October 14, 2023
Challenges
Although the notion of asteroid mining is alluring, technological limitations persist.
The challenges posed by the lengthy journey and associated costs could be mitigated by forthcoming advances in nuclear or fusion propulsion technologies.
NASA's Psyche mission is seminal not just for what it could reveal about the origins of our solar system but also for how it shapes future discourse on space mining.
By venturing into uncharted territory, NASA is setting the stage for the next chapter in both scientific exploration and resource exploitation beyond Earth's bounds.