Nasa probe launches to metal asteroid Psyche

BBC: NASA has launched a probe to explore 16 Psyche, a unique metal asteroid believed to be composed of up to 60% iron and nickel. Launched from Cape Canaveral in Florida via a Falcon-Heavy rocket, the probe will travel a 3.5 billion km journey over six years to reach its destination, located between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. Scientists suspect that Psyche may be the exposed core of a planet-like object whose outer layers were stripped away. The spacecraft will orbit the asteroid at varying distances to study its shape, internal structure, and composition. This mission will also test new technologies such as electric propulsion and laser-based data transmission. The findings could have implications for asteroid mining and deepen our understanding of the early Solar System.

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