NASA’s Psyche Asteroid Mission: Delving into the Heart of an Asteroid
NASA’s Psyche mission is launching on October 5, 2023 and it aims to explore Earth’s core indirectly by studying Psyche, the largest metal asteroid orbiting between Mars and Jupiter.
The Psyche asteroid mission plans to closely study this unique space rock. (PHOTO: BBC)
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Journey to Earth’s Core: Psyche Asteroid Mission Explores Cosmic Clues
Jules Verne’s fantastical tale of a journey to Earth’s core sparked imagination, but science labeled it fiction due to extreme conditions. Still, we’ve gained insights into Earth’s core, like its solid center and molten layer. According to Discover Magazine, NASA’s Psyche asteroid mission, launching on October 5, 2023, aims to explore Earth’s core indirectly by studying a metal asteroid. Around 20% of asteroids, including Psyche, are metal fragments from ancient cosmic collisions.
Discovered in 1852, Psyche is the largest metal asteroid, orbiting between Mars and Jupiter. The Psyche asteroid mission plans to closely study this unique space rock. Using solar panels for power, a spacecraft will examine its features, gravity, geology, and magnetic fields. The main goal is to determine if Psyche could be a part of an ancient planet’s core. This Psyche asteroid mission could shed light on Earth’s core and how planets form.
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Epic Odyssey: Psyche Asteroid Mission to the Unknown
Psyche’s six-year journey, covering 2.5 billion miles, will include a flyby of Mars. Developed by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Arizona State University, the mission’s findings could expand our understanding of planetary cores and the solar system’s history. The Psyche asteroid mission symbolizes human curiosity and innovation in exploring the cosmos, pushing the boundaries of celestial discovery.
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