NASA is gearing up to explore a metal-rich asteroid named 16 Psyche, valued at an eye-popping $10 quintillion. This asteroid contains large amounts of gold, iron, and nickel, making it a cosmic treasure trove.
Launched in October 2023, NASA’s spacecraft is traveling at 84,000 mph and will arrive at 16 Psyche in 2029 after a 2.5-billion-mile journey. Scientists think this asteroid could be the exposed core of a planet that formed early in our solar system.
With a surface area of about 64,000 square miles and metal content estimated between 30 and 60 percent, 16 Psyche’s resources could theoretically make every person on Earth a billionaire if divided evenly.
But experts and the public express concern that such a sudden influx of precious metals could cause prices to crash, making gold and similar materials nearly worthless.
As NASA’s mission unfolds, the world waits to see if 16 Psyche will unlock new scientific knowledge or shake up global markets.
