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SpaceX’s impressive Falcon Heavy rocket soared into space this morning, successfully launching a NASA mission aimed at reaching a faraway asteroid.
The NASA mission, known as Psyche, is specifically targeting the asteroid Psyche. The spacecraft, which boasts a size similar to a tennis court, will embark on a nearly six-year journey covering approximately 2.2 billion miles. It is expected to reach the asteroid in July 2029.
The exhilarating liftoff occurred at 10:19 a.m. ET from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
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NASA’s objective is to investigate the composition of this peculiar asteroid, given its high metal content. Equipped with a range of cutting-edge scientific instruments, the Psyche spacecraft aims to study the asteroid’s magnetic field and chemical makeup.
A spectacular sight as a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket, carrying the Psyche spacecraft, launches from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, on October 13, 2023.
Chandan Khanna | AFP | Getty Images
The anticipated total cost of the Psyche mission, including development and operations, is approximately $1.2 billion. SpaceX secured a contract worth around $131 million from NASA to carry out the launch.
This mission marks the eighth successful launch of SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket—currently the company’s most powerful. Notably, the rocket’s side boosters were successfully landed for future reuse.
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