The completed spacecraft will be launched by NASA in October of this year atop a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket, heading towards the asteroid of the same name as the mission, 16 Psyche, commonly referred to as Psyche. According to Space, the Psyche launch was initially set for October 2022 but was delayed due to a software glitch and previous mission setup obstacles.
The mission, led by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), has adjusted its trajectory to accommodate the change in launch timing. It is expected to take nearly 6 years to reach Psyche, around August 2029.
The Psyche spacecraft and its target asteroid, both named Psyche – Graphic image from NASA
If launched last year, it would have had a more favorable position to reach Psyche in just over 3 years (early 2026), but unfortunately, NASA missed the “golden opportunity.” The most intriguing aspect that NASA hopes to discover at Psyche is insights into the formation of our own Earth. Previous studies led by the agency indicate that it is a failed “protoplanet.”
A “protoplanet” is the most primitive type of planet in a star system, including the Solar System, but not yet a fully formed planet as we commonly see. Many protoplanets break apart in the wild “youth” of a star system, providing material for the formation of actual planets.
If successfully developed, Psyche would have been the core of an Earth-like planet, but unfortunately, it failed.
Furthermore, studies based on spectral data also suggest that Psyche may primarily consist of precious metals, most notably gold and platinum, potentially valued at 70,000 times the global economy.