Mining on Earth
Earth has an abundance of metallic minerals that can be mined and processed to make building materials and an innumerable number of everyday items. However, mining can negatively affect the environment and pollute waterways.
Source: Wikimedia
But what if we could source these minerals elsewhere in the solar system? Well, now NASA believes they have found a source of metallic minerals, but there’s one catch: it’s millions of millions away from Earth.
What is Psyche 19?
Several years ago, scientists came across a large asteroid, later dubbed “16 Psyche,” situated in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. The enormous rock measures approximately 173 miles across at its greatest extent, per Newsweek.
Source: Wikimedia
According to current estimates, the distance from Earth to the asteroid ranges from 186 million miles to over 370 million, depending on where our planet and 16 Psyche are in their orbits.
The Fascination With 16 Psyche
Researchers have been fascinated with 16 Psyche since it was discovered several years ago for one important reason: unlike other asteroids, which are generally composed of ice or rock, it contains a high percentage of metallic iron and nickel.
Source: Freepik
Initial estimations sourced from NASA suggest the asteroid could comprise up to 60% of the minerals.
Where Did Psyche Come From?
Following its discovery, researchers began theorizing where the asteroid may have originated.
Source: Wikimedia
One popular theory is that 16 Psyche may be the exposed core of an early planetesimal that lost its outer layers at a distant point in the past. Others have suggested it may be the remains of a small celestial body.
NASA Sent a Spacecraft to Investigate the Asteroid
After discovering the unique asteroid, NASA decided they wanted to investigate its potential further.
Source: NASA
This led to the launch of a spacecraft, Psyche, from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida in the fall of 2023. However, due to the immense distance between our planet and the asteroid, the craft won’t reach its destination until 2029.
Metals Worth $10,000 Quadrillion
If the NASA mission goes well and researchers are able to start mining the asteroid, it could have drastic consequences for the mineral market on Earth, particularly for iron and nickel.
Source: Wikimedia
The estimated value of metal contained within the asteroid is thought to be as high as $10,000 quadrillion. In other words, this equates to 100,000 of our planet’s $100 trillion GDP economy.
16 Psyche May Teach Researchers About the Formation of the Solar System
Exploring the distant asteroid will also give researchers a unique look at a celestial object that could resemble our Earth in the interior. This could shed insight into the formation of planets and the history of the early solar system.
Source: Wikimedia
The mission could also serve as the beginning of a new era of mineral sourcing, one that expands mining beyond the boundaries of our planet.
NASA Administrator Shares Her Opinion
Nicola Fox, associate administrator for the Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington, shared a statement discussing the asteroid’s potential.
Source: Freepik
“We hope that when we get to this metal world, it will reveal a treasure trove of scientific discovery and potential answers to our deepest questions about the solar system’s history and our place in it,” she said.
The Origin of the Solar System
Fox also touched on the idea that the asteroid could help researchers gain insight into the origin of our solar system and the wider universe.
Source: Wikimedia
“By studying asteroid Psyche, we hope to better understand our universe and our place in it, especially regarding the mysterious and impossible-to-reach metal core of our own home planet, Earth.”
Reaching the Asteroid
The Psyche spacecraft, which is around the size of a small van, is currently making its way towards the asteroid of the same name.
Source: Wikimedia
According to NASA, it will eventually reach speeds of up to 124,000 mph. Despite this, it will still take years to reach its distance. By the time it arrives, it will have ventured over 2.2 billion miles!
Mapping the Asteroid
When the spacecraft arrives, it will orbit around the asteroid for over two years, mapping the entirety of its surface while collecting data on its gravity and magnetic field.
Source: Freepik
Speaking on the mission’s revolutionary aspects, Benjamin Weiss, an MIT professor of planetary science, said, “This will be the first time we’ve sent a mission to a body that is not mostly rock or ice, but metal. “Not only is this asteroid potentially a metal world, but asteroids are the building blocks of planets. So Psyche could tell us something about how planets formed.