NASA’s Psyche Mission Faces New Mystery As It Nears Mars Flyby
Yahoo • • science
Key Points:
- A new study of craters on asteroid 16 Psyche aims to determine whether it is the exposed core of a failed planet or a mixed metal-rock body, providing insight into planetary formation.
- Psyche, the largest known metallic asteroid at about 140 miles across, is the target of NASA’s Psyche mission, launched in October 2023, which will arrive at the asteroid in 2029 to map it in 3D.
- Researchers simulated impacts on Psyche to predict crater formation under two scenarios: a layered metallic core with a rocky mantle or a uniform metal-silicate mixture, finding both could explain observed craters.
- The study highlights the significant role of porosity—empty space inside the asteroid—in crater formation, a factor often overlooked in previous models.
- While Psyche’s estimated metal value is around $10,000 quadrillion, its scientific importance lies in revealing planetary interiors, as mining or returning the asteroid to Earth is not feasible.
