NASA is gearing up to launch a spacecraft to the asteroid 16 Psyche, with hopes of discovering precious gemstones like diamonds and rubies. Positioned in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, 16 Psyche is believed to contain iron, nickel, precious metals, and gemstones.

The Quest for Diamonds and Rubies

“I hope we can find diamonds and rubies on that asteroid,” says Bill Nelson, Administrator of NASA. The mission will involve sending a multi-billion-dollar spacecraft to 16 Psyche, with liftoff schedule for 15:16 UK time from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, using a SpaceX Falcon rocket.

The journey is expect to take seven years to reach 16 Psyche. In May 2026, the spacecraft will pass by Mars, utilizing the Red Planet’s gravity to alter its trajectory and propel itself towards the asteroid. The spacecraft will reach its destination in 2030 and will spend approximately 26 months in orbit. The mission aims to collect images of the asteroid, as well as record its topography, surface features, gravity, and magnetism.

Unveiling the Mystery of 16 Psyche

16 Psyche first spot by Italian astronomer Annibale de Gasparis in 1852 and name after the Greek goddess of the soul and wife of Cupid. Initially thought a regular asteroid made of rock and ice, scientists surprise in the 1980s when radar readings reveale that it , in fact, a metallic object. It’s believe that this massive, 130-mile-long metallic rock lost its outer crust after numerous powerful collisions billions of years ago.

A Mission of Scientific Discovery

NASA’s Psyche project manager at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Henry Stone, state, “The team has work tirelessly to prepare the spacecraft for its journey to this unique asteroid.” All spacecraft systems, scientific instruments, and software thoroughly integrate and test.

“We look forward to launch and, more importantly, to the mission’s goal, marking a historic scientific discovery journey,” he add.

While asteroid 16 Psyche won’t be mine, it will provide space agencies with insights into what might be available for future mining endeavors. This mission not only seeks to uncover the mysteries of the solar system but also paves the way for potential future resource exploration in space.