Lift-off! NASA chases Psyche Asteroid

tech.hindustantimes.com:

In a historic moment, NASA's Psyche Asteroid probe embarked on a groundbreaking journey to a space rock laden with rare metals. This remarkable NASA mission represents the first-ever exploration of a metallic world, diverging from the conventional rocky or icy compositions of most asteroids. Scientists believe that this enigmatic celestial body could unlock insights into the elusive cores of Earth and other rocky planets, speculating that it might be the remnants of an ancient planet.

Amid a cloudy midday sky, SpaceX catapulted the satellite into space from NASA's Kennedy Space Center. The destination? The colossal asteroid it's named after, Psyche, with an anticipated arrival in 2029. An hour after lift-off, ground controllers jubilantly confirmed the successful separation of the spacecraft from the rocket's upper stage.

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NASA's foray into the realm of metallic asteroids marks a significant departure from decades of exploring distant worlds primarily composed of rock, ice, or gas. Psyche, the largest among approximately nine metal-rich asteroids identified so far, orbits the Sun alongside myriad other space rocks within the outer region of the central asteroid belt, nestled between Mars and Jupiter. It was discovered in 1852 and christened with the name of the alluring Greek goddess of the soul.

This gargantuan asteroid boasts dimensions of roughly 144 miles in width and 173 miles in length, as ascertained through radar and astronomical studies. Scientists believe that it is enriched with metals such as iron, nickel, and possibly silicates. Its surface is primarily gray and likely coated with minute metal particles from cosmic collisions.

As of now, Psyche is nothing more than a faint