An Asteroid May Explain Earth’s Core Construction

NASA is set to launch the Psyche spacecraft on October 5, 2023, embarking on a historic mission to explore asteroid 16 Psyche, in an effort to understand Earth’s core construction.

• This is an opportunity to study a potential planetary core and advance planetary evolution insights.
• The asteroid, valued at $10,000 quadrillion on Earth, provides an unprecedented opportunity to investigate a metal-rich celestial body.

NASA is launching the Psyche spacecraft to explore asteroid 16 Psyche, located a staggering 280 million miles away. The mission, scheduled for liftoff on October 5, 2023, will go down in history as it promises to shed light on Earth’s core construction and possibly pave the way for understanding the development of terrestrial planets.

Scientists posit that electric currents coursing through Earth’s molten metal core give rise to the planet’s magnetic field. This field is a fundamental force safeguarding our atmosphere, deflecting harmful solar wind, and ultimately sustaining life as we know it.

And since, with all due respect to Jules Vernes, we can’t exactly journey to the center of the Earth, NASA is sending the Psyche spacecraft to the metallic asteroid 16 Psyche.

Asteroid 16 Psyche, believed to be the stripped core of a failed planet, presents a unique opportunity to explore metal-rich celestial bodies. Noemí Pinilla-Alonso, a planetary scientist, noted, “A more recent theory, based on detailed studies of the largest M-type asteroid, 16 Psyche, argues that these bodies formed much closer to the sun, were stripped of their thin crusts while still partially molten, and later dynamically moved to their current location.”

Estimated to be worth a staggering $10,000 quadrillion if brought to Earth, this colossal space rock presents an extraordinary opportunity to study a potential planetary core construction. Lindy Elkins-Tanton, principal investigator of the Psyche mission, made it clear, “This is an opportunity to explore a new type of world — not one of rock or ice, but of metal.”

The mission’s objectives encompass a comprehensive study of 16 Psyche’s properties, employing an array of instruments to capture images and measure gravity, magnetic fields, and electromagnetic radiation. By analyzing these measurements, NASA aims to determine if 16 Psyche is indeed a planetary core, potentially advancing our understanding of planetary evolution and formation.

But the mission is more than a quest for knowledge. it will pioneer the deployment of the Deep Space Optical Communications (DSOC) system, a cutting-edge communication technology harnessing invisible lasers for high-speed data transmission. Its employment of a solar electric propulsion system featuring Hall thrusters will also demonstrate efficient propulsion techniques for deep space exploration.

As launch day approaches, a team of engineers and technicians is working tirelessly to prepare Psyche for its momentous journey. With hardware and software primed, Psyche’s enormous solar panels will be affixed, and xenon propellant will be loaded onto the spacecraft. Once en route, Psyche is anticipated to conduct a 26-month orbital study of asteroid 16 Psyche, unveiling insights into its composition and history.

Inside Telecom provides you with an extensive list of content covering all aspects of the tech industry. Keep an eye on our Tech sections to stay informed and up-to-date with our daily articles.