NASA is preparing for its ambitious Psyche mission, aiming to explore a rare metal-rich asteroid that could reveal insights into the early solar system. The asteroid, named Psyche, is located in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. Scientists believe it may be the exposed core of a protoplanet.
The spacecraft will travel approximately 2.2 billion miles over six years, studying Psyche’s composition and magnetic field. Unlike other missions that explore rocky or icy bodies, this one targets a body primarily composed of iron and nickel, similar to Earth’s core.
Experts hope the findings will offer clues about the violent collisions that formed planets. Psyche’s unusual composition makes it a valuable subject of study, and the mission marks another step in humanity’s quest to understand the origins of the solar system.