NASA sends probe to a planet three times farther from the Sun than Earth
The US space agency NASA is about to take a big step in space exploration by sending a probe to a planet three times farther from the Sun than Earth. This mission has the potential to provide us with a deeper understanding of the formation and evolution of our planet, as well as showing us where we can find valuable metals on it, with a value that far exceeds the entire world economy.
SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket blasted off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on October 13, with the main goal of this mission being to send the Psyche probe to the planet of the same name. Psyche is a spacecraft the size of a small van, and its journey to the asteroid, which was first discovered in 1852, will take nearly six years and cover approximately 3.6 billion kilometres.
The asteroid Psyche is three times farther from the Sun than Earth, and although relatively large, it has an estimated value that exceeds the sum of the gross domestic product of all the nations on Earth. Rare metals such as gold, silver, platinum, and more are found on this asteroid, giving it an estimated value of up to $10 trillion. This amount represents approximately 95,000 times the total world economy.
Rare metals such as gold, silver, platinum, and more are found on this asteroid, giving it an estimated value of up to $10 trillion. This amount represents approximately 95,000 times the total world economy.
The main goal of the mission to the asteroid Psyche is to discover why this asteroid contains so many valuable metals and how it formed. Psyche is thought to be an “exposed nickel-iron core” that may have formed the basis for a new planet in the past.This mission could provide important information about the processes that shaped planet Earth and what happens inside rocky planets.
The Psyche spacecraft is expected to arrive at the planet in July 2029, and its mission will last at least 21 months. During this time, the probe will map the surface of the asteroid, study its properties and take measurements that will help us better understand this mysterious planet. Psyche will also test new laser communication technology that could significantly increase the speed of interstellar communication. Overall, the mission is attracting a lot of interest, and scientists hope it will provide important insights into the formation of the Earth and the cosmic mysteries that have intrigued us until now.
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