What we know about Psyche
Observations from Earth indicate that Psyche is rich in metal and also contains rocky material. Scientists are investigating whether it could include part of an ancient planetesimal’s core, but its structure and origin are not yet confirmed. Monetary values sometimes assigned to its metals are not measurements of recoverable wealth.
The NASA mission
The Psyche spacecraft launched on 13 October 2023. NASA expects it to begin exploring the asteroid in August 2029: that is a mission target and may change. Once in orbit, the spacecraft will collect images and measurements to study the surface, composition and magnetic field.
A window onto planet formation
We cannot directly observe Earth’s metallic core. A body such as Psyche therefore offers an opportunity to test models of early planet formation, although the mission may reveal a different history from the one imagined.