NASA's Mission to a $10,000-Quadrillion Metal Asteroid Nears Launch

NASA is preparing to launch the Psyche spacecraft on October 5th to study the asteroid 16 Psyche, which is believed to be the partial core of a "planetesimal." By studying this metal asteroid, NASA hopes to gain insights into Earth's core and potentially discover clues about habitability and the existence of extraterrestrial life. The mission will also test new communication systems, including optical communications using lasers, and utilize a solar electric propulsion system featuring Hall thrusters for deep space travel.