NASA's Upcoming Mission to Uncover the Secrets of a Metal Asteroid

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 search for extraterrestrial life. The mission will also test new communication and propulsion systems, including the use of optical communications and solar electric propulsion. The spacecraft is expected to arrive at its destination in 2026 and spend 26 months orbiting 16 Psyche to gather data and determine if it is indeed a planetary core.