The mission is expected to arrive at the asteroid Psyche in 2029.
Share on linkedin The Falcon Heavy rocket carrying Psyche launches. Photo: NASA/Aubrey GemignaniWhy it matters:By studying it from close range, researchers hope to learn more about what happened in our solar system billions of years ago, setting the stage for how it evolved into what we see today.The Psyche mission launched on its journey to the asteroid Psyche at 10:19am ET aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket on Friday.
"Scientists believe Psyche could be part of the core of a planetesimal — an early planetary building block — and composed of a mixture of rock and iron-nickel metal," NASA wrote in a . "The metal will not be mined; it will be studied to give researchers a better idea of what makes up Earth's core and how rocky planets formed in our solar system."Studying Psyche could also help scientists learn more about what lurks in the core of our Earth.
"Humans can't bore a path to our planet's core — or the cores of the other rocky planets — so visiting Psyche could provide a one-of-a-kind window into the violent history of collisions and accumulation of matter that created planets like our own," NASA wrote.Share on linkedin
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