The most-massive asteroid ‘16 Psyche’, named after a primordial Greek goddess, is counted among the most inexplicable celestial objects in the entire astral system. With a metal-rich configuration and nearly 200 kilometer-long diameters, the 16 Psyche is the most massive metallic M-type asteroid. However, the complete description of the asteroid including its origin and other crucial factors are still in vague and to read all these, NASA, the US-based space agency is gearing up to send a new multi-billion dollar space probe, which will study and explore the secrets of the puzzling asteroid. It means, in next few years, human beings will be able to get a close-up outlook about the mystifying asteroid – 16 Psyche.
On 4th of this month, NASA declared about its future mission which also includes the exploration of the mysterious asteroid. NASA, by the end of 2030, will send a multi-billion-worth space probe called “Psyche” to explore the Massachusetts-sized asteroid. The mission is intended to explore more details about the extraordinary body structure of the asteroid, which is believed to be made out of the residual core of a departed planet.
Commenting on this matter, Lindy Elkins-Tanton, the head scientist of this mission of NASA and the director of Arizona State University’s School of Earth and Space Exploration, said to Global News, “the iron content of the 16 Psyche alone, will worth more than $10,000 quadrillion, which is exceptional in its own way.”
Taking the statement, Lindy said, “The mission will involve the exploration of a new world, which is unlike other celestial bodies not made out of ice or rock but is rich with metal. The 2030-programemd mission will be a first-of-its-kinds project, which will lead us towards the discovery of a new and exciting chapter of the mysterious cosmos.”
The launch of Psyche Space probe is scheduled for October 2023, while the landing of it on the asteroid is scheduled for 2030. According to NASA, 16 Psyche is one of the ten supermassive known asteroids of the asteroid belt. It has more than 124 miles diameters and is rich with nickel and iron. It was discovered on 17 March 1852 from Naples and named after the name of Greek goddess Psyche.