An asteroid that is worth $10 quintillion after being discovered 173 years ago could make everyone on Earth a billionaire.
It turns out asteroids aren’t all just space rocks, but instead, some are floating goldmines.
The asteroid in question is known as 16 Psyche, and is estimated to have a value of a whopping $10 quintillion.
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This is because of the precious minerals present on the rock.
16 Psyche was first discovered back in 1852 by Italian astronomer Annibale de Gasparis and orbits the Sun somewhere between Mars and Jupiter.
Since then, the asteroid has been monitored by the James Webb Science Telescope, and it has now been said to contain resources worth several times more than the entire economy of the world.
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Unlike most asteroids, which tend to be made up of rock and ice, this one is believed to have a nickel-iron core.
It’s also thought that the rock is made up of elements like platinum and palladium, which are materials that are vital for making electronics and cars.
Scientists have been using radar and optical observations to create a 3D model of the asteroid, although no one will know for certain what it actually looks like until we get a glimpse close up.
However, due to its positioning, it would currently take us six years to reach 16 Psyche.
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Still, that’s not to say that it isn’t worth doing - after all, if we’re able to mine the asteroid for its minerals, it could be very lucrative for people on Earth.
And NASA seems to agree, as the space agency launched a mission to the rock back in October 2023 and it’s on its way.
The probe is expected to reach the asteroid by the year 2029.
NASA has a dedicated page on its website to 16 Psyche, where it says: "This intriguing asteroid is now the primary target of NASA's Psyche mission. The Psyche spacecraft will launch in October 2023 and travel to the asteroid using solar-electric (low-thrust) propulsion, following a Mars flyby and a gravity assist.
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"Once in orbit, the spacecraft will map and study Psyche using a multispectral imager, a gamma-ray and neutron spectrometer, a magnetometer, and a radio instrument (for gravity measurement). The mission’s goal is, among other things, to determine whether Psyche is indeed the core of a planetesimal."
The space agency adds: "Psyche was discovered by Italian astronomer Annibale de Gasparis on March 17, 1852. He named the asteroid for Psyche, the Greek goddess of the soul who was born mortal and married Eros (Roman Cupid), the god of Love.
"Because it was the 16th asteroid to be discovered, it is sometimes referred to as 16 Psyche."