NASA finds a rare metallic asteroid that is worth more than the global economy

16 Psyche was actually discovered in 1852, but this is the first time a scientist has taken a closer look. What makes it special is that, unlike most asteroids which are rocky or icy, 16 Psyche is made almost entirely of iron and nickel, a study published this week in The Planetary Science Journal Shows.

Tracy Becker, planetary scientist and author of the article, says the asteroid is likely the residual core of a planet that never formed properly because it was hit by objects in our solar system and actually lost its mantle and crust.

Closer look

While Hubble was able to get clear images of 16 Psyche, only a visit to its surface will reveal what it really is like. Fortunately, NASA already has plans to do so as part of its Discovery Program, with an orbiter launching from Florida’s Kennedy Space Center in August 2022.

The mission would reach 16 Psyche in January 2026 and spend at least 21 months mapping and studying the unique properties of the asteroid.

“Understanding what actually constitutes a planet and potentially seeing the inside of a planet is fascinating,” says Becker, who is also a planetary scientist at the Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio, Texas. “Once we get to Psyche, we will really understand if this is the case, even if it will not go as we expect

If the mission could kindly bring the asteroid back to Earth, every person on the planet – all 7.8 billion of us – would get about $ 1.3 billion, based on current metal prices.