NASA launches mission to rare metal asteroid in first of its kind

NASA embarked on its inaugural six-year long exploration of a rare metal-covered asteroid on October 13.

According to National Geographic, the journey is unique as most asteroids typically consist of rocky or icy materials. Scientists speculate that this metal world might be the remnants of an early planet's core, offering insights into the inaccessible inner structures of Earth and other rocky planets.

SpaceX was responsible for launching the spacecraft into the cloudy midmorning sky from NASA's Kennedy Space Center. Psyche, named after the asteroid it's destined for, is expected to reach the colossal, potato-shaped object in 2029.

Lindy Elkins-Tanton, the lead scientist from Arizona State University, reflected on humanity's longstanding aspiration to explore Earth's metal core. She remarked, "It's long been humans' dream to go to the metal core of our Earth. I mean, ask Jules Verne. The pressure is too high. The temperature is too high. The technology is impossible. But there's one way in our solar system that we can look at a metal core, and that is by going to this asteroid."

Among the nine metal-rich asteroids identified to date, Psyche is the largest. It orbits the Sun in the outer part of the primary asteroid belt, located between Mars and Jupiter, alongside millions of other celestial bodies. This asteroid was first discovered in 1852 and christened after the alluring goddess of the soul from Greek mythology.