NASA scientists are preparing to launch a mission to explore a $10,000 quadrillion asteroid. The spacecraft, named Psyche, is scheduled for liftoff on October 12 and aims to study this celestial body that is estimated to be worth more than the entire global economy.
The asteroid is located in the outer portion of the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. Psyche is set to launch at 10:16 a.m. EDT on Thursday, October 12, using a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from Launch Complex 39A at the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida, according to NASA.
The purpose of this mission is to conduct a detailed study of the space rock, as it can provide insights into planetary cores and the formation of Earth itself. NASA states that Psyche offers a unique opportunity to explore the building blocks of planet formation and investigate an unexplored type of world.
Metro News reports that the current combined GDP of the world is $105 trillion, whereas this asteroid is valued at $10,000 quadrillion, making it an incredibly valuable celestial object.
The mission, called Psyche, is led by Arizona State University and was chosen by NASA as one of two missions for the agency’s Discovery Programme, which focuses on low-cost missions to various solar system targets. The Psyche spacecraft will use solar-electric propulsion and make a Mars flyby and gravity assist before reaching the asteroid. The mission plan involves mapping the asteroid and studying its properties.
The launch of this mission is highly anticipated, as it holds the potential to provide valuable insights into the origins of our planet and the universe as a whole.