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 rock-metal body, shedding light on planetary formation and the asteroid's internal structure.
- Psyche, the largest known metallic asteroid at 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.
- Simulations of large crater formation suggest two possible internal structures for Psyche: a layered metallic core with a rocky mantle or a uniform metal-silicate mixture, but further data from the mission will be needed to confirm either scenario.
- The study highlights the importance of porosity (empty space inside the asteroid) in crater formation, a factor often overlooked but shown to significantly influence impact outcomes.
- While Psyche’s estimated metal value is around $10,000 quadrillion, this is theoretical since the asteroid cannot be mined or brought to Earth, but the mission will provide valuable insights into planetary cores and early solar system processes.
