NASA’s Psyche Probe Flies To A Metal-Rich Asteroid

On May 15, 2026, NASA’s Psyche space probe used Mars’ gravity to slingshot itself toward its final destination: biggest asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. Traveling over 12,300 miles per hour, the spacecraft flew over Mars by just 2,864 miles. The planet’s gravity helped Psyche change direction and speed up without using fuel.

With its solar arrays deployed, the spacecraft is approximately the size of a singles tennis court (81 feet by 24 feet). With the help of the SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket, Psyche took over at the Kennedy Space Center, Florida.. The spacecraft will be captured by the asteroid’s gravity in July 2029, and its 26-month research mission will begin in August 2029.

Once in orbit, the spacecraft will spend over two years taking pictures, mapping the surface, and collecting gravitational data on the asteroid. For example, the spacecraft will measure the asteroid’s magnetic field to determine if it ever possessed a generated magnetic field like Earth does. It means that an object produces its own magnetic field through the internal motion of electrically charged particles. Also, it will analyze the elemental composition of the asteroid’s surface by detecting neutrons emitted by radioactive elements.

This asteroid is about 140 miles across, and it is believed to have more gold than earth. With estimates suggesting its mineral wealth could exceed $10 quintillion, which would make everyone on the planet a millionaire if you divide it equally. Also, astronomers believe it may be the stripped-down, ancient core of a building block planet that lost its outer layers in a violent collision billions of years ago.