NASA is on a groundbreaking mission to study 16 Psyche, an asteroid worth an estimated $10 quintillion due to its rich metal content. This space rock is believed to hold vast amounts of gold, iron, and nickel.
The spacecraft launched in late 2023 and is speeding through space at 84,000 mph. It is expected to reach the asteroid in August 2029, traveling 2.5 billion miles.
Scientists think 16 Psyche might be the exposed nickel-iron core of an ancient planet, providing insight into planetary formation. Its large size and metal-rich composition make it incredibly valuable.
If the metals were shared among Earth’s population, each person could receive about $1.2 billion. However, many warn that flooding the market could drastically reduce the value of these metals.
The mission’s outcome could change how we understand our solar system and impact the global economy in unexpected ways.
