NASA is set to undertake a mission to study a metal-rich asteroid that could help us better understand how planets like Earth were formed. You can watch the launch here.
. As such, it's pretty difficult to gain a full understanding of what the core of our planet looks like.. In fact, this metal-rich asteroid, which is called 16 Psyche, is believed to once have been part of a planetary core. This is the first NASA mission to study an asteroid that has more metal than rock or ice.from Kennedy Space Center in Florida . You can watch a live stream of the launch below.
The Psyche spacecraft is around the size of a small van. As soon as it reaches the asteroid, it will start sending images of 16 Psyche back to Earth. It's equipped with a magnetometer, a gamma-ray and neutron spectrometer and a multispectral imager to study the asteroid. It will spend around two years snapping photos, mapping the asteroid's surface and collecting data to gain a better understanding of 16 Psyche’s composition.
The spacecraft, which is powered by solar electric propulsion, is expected to reach 16 Psyche in July 2029. If NASA had been ready to launch the mission last year,NASA understands that the 173-mile wide 16 Psyche asteroid may, in fact, not be an exposed core of a planetesimal, an early planetary building block. The agencythat it might instead be the "leftover piece of a completely different kind of iron-rich body that formed from metal-rich material somewhere in the solar system.
The spacecraft will have a second job to do. It will also test new laser communications tech from NASA JPL calledThis is said to be able to transfer data and images at least 10 times faster than conventional systems. The experiment will test how capable the system is of transmitting data at faster rates beyond the Moon. However, it won't be used to send back any Psyche mission data.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
SpaceX Falcon Heavy Liftoff Imminent: NASA’s Psyche spacecraft Sets Sights on Earth-Like AsteroidScience, Space and Technology News 2023
Read more »
How to watch NASA’s Psyche mission launch to a metal asteroid this weekDT Video
Read more »
How to watch NASA reveal the Bennu asteroid sampleDT Video
Read more »
Apple Watch Ultra 2 vs Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic: The best smartwatches of 2023Peter, an experienced tech enthusiast at PhoneArena, is captivated by all things mobile. His impartial reviews and proficiency in Android systems offer readers valuable insights. Off-duty, he delves into the latest cryptocurrency trends and enjoys sci-fi and video games.
Read more »
Why NASA is sending a mission to a metal worldEditor&8217;s note: Sign up for CNN’s Wonder Theory science newsletter. Explore the universe with news on fascinating discoveries, scientific advancements and more. (CNN) — For the first time, a NASA mission is setting off on a distant journey to visit a metal world in our solar system. Getting up close with the asteroid known as Psyche...
Read more »