NASA’s ‘Asteroid Autumn’: Exciting Missions Unveiled
NASA’s upcoming missions have been dubbed the ‘asteroid autumn’ and promise to unravel some of the most baffling mysteries of our universe. Over the next six weeks, three key milestones will take place – a rocket launch, a fly-by between Jupiter and Mars, and the recovery of ancient space rocks in Utah that could hold the secrets to the origins of life.
Let’s begin with NASA’s Psyche spacecraft, which may sound ordinary at first glance but is an incredibly fascinating mission. It is embarking on an extraordinary 2.5 billion-mile journey to determine whether a metal-rich asteroid could potentially trigger a global economic disaster.
‘Asteroid Autumn’ Explained: MailOnline Explores Thrilling NASA Missions
The first mission involves the launch of NASA’s Psyche spacecraft, which is headed towards a massive asteroid known as 16 Psyche. Scientists believe this asteroid is filled with precious metals worth more than a staggering $10,000 quadrillion (£8,072 quadrillion). Some experts argue that it’s just a colossal rock, but NASA’s orbiter will provide the definitive answer when it reaches the asteroid in July 2029.
The appearance of 16 Psyche, however, won’t resemble anything you’d find in a jewelry store. This 173-mile-wide (280 km) asteroid, located in the vast asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, is composed of iron, nickel, and other rare metals such as gold, platinum, and copper. By studying 16 Psyche, scientists hope to gain insights into the violent cosmic events that shaped Earth and the other terrestrial planets. The iron alone within this asteroid is estimated to be worth $10,000 quadrillion (£8,072 quadrillion).
Dr. Linda Elkins-Tanton, a space scientist at MIT, explains the potential repercussions of retrieving such unimaginable wealth from outer space. If 16 Psyche does contain vast amounts of precious metals, the value of these commodities on Earth could plummet overnight. Governments, mining companies, and traders would see their holdings rendered worthless, leading to a catastrophic collapse of the global economy. However, it’s essential to note that this scenario remains purely speculative, as transporting such a massive space rock back to Earth is currently beyond our technological capabilities.
In California, engineers are preparing the Psyche spacecraft for its journey to 16 Psyche. The orbiter will be transported into space aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket, scheduled for launch from Pad 39A at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on October 5.
Next, another team of NASA scientists is gearing up to recover a capsule containing fragments of the asteroid Bennu. The OSIRIS-REx spacecraft, the first US mission to collect a sample from an asteroid, will drop an 8.8oz (250g) sample of rock and dust in Utah’s western desert on September 24.
Bennu is approximately the size of the Empire State Building and located around 200 million miles away from Earth. It intrigues scientists due to its collection of microscopic mineral grains that predate the solar system. This carbon-rich matter is believed to preserve the building blocks of life and shed light on the formation of planets and the origins of life on Earth. The sample collected by OSIRIS-REx is the largest obtained by a NASA mission since the Apollo moonwalkers brought back lunar rocks in the 1960s and 70s.
The precious rock and dust collected will be housed in a new lab at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston alongside the hundreds of pounds of lunar material collected during the Apollo missions.
Finally, the spacecraft named Lucy, launched in October 2021, is set to study eight asteroids orbiting Jupiter. On November 1, it will fly by its first space rock called Dinkinesh. The 12-year mission will explore the so-called Trojan asteroids, which are believed to be remnants from the early days of our solar system. The spacecraft will provide crucial insights into planetary origins and solar system formation.
Immerse Yourself in NASA’s ‘Asteroid Autumn’: Groundbreaking Missions Underway
Led by NASA, these missions represent an unprecedented stride in our quest for knowledge. From investigating the economic consequences of metal-rich asteroids to uncovering the secrets of ancient space rocks, these endeavors push the boundaries of human understanding. Brace yourself for a thrilling journey through the wonders of our cosmos!
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