The largest metallic asteroid known to science could be covered in iron volcanoes, experts say.
A space rock the size of Massachusetts, dubbed 16 Psyche, is thought to the be remains of a dead planet’s once active core – much like at the Earth’s centre.
It’s not yet known what astronauts will encounter on the surface of the asteroid but the planned mission may uncover dramatic terrain.
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The largest metallic asteroid known to science could be covered in what scientists are calling ‘iron volcanoes’. The size of the US state of Massachusetts, 16 Psyche is thought to the be remains of a planet’s cores, made largely of metal, much like the Earth’s core.
The surface could be covered in matter known as regolith – debris that includes dust, soil – that is found on the surface of the moon.
Sulphur volcanoes rich in iron may also be uncovered, depending on how it cooled, and these structures may be visible.
The mission to 16 Psyche will be discussed at the 50th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference (LPSC) in Texas, a prominent gathering of planetary science researchers being held this week.
Dr Lindy Elkins-Tanton the lead scientist on the Nasa mission and the director of Arizona State University’s School of Earth and Space Exploration, said: ‘Our very best and favourite model for Psyche is that it froze from the outside in, recording its [magnetic] field and that it would be covered in the now billions-of-years-old remnants of sulphur volcanoes.
‘It might be solid metal, or it might be a pile of rubble that’s mostly metal.
‘One of the things that happens when metal freezes is that it loses about 7% of its volume.
‘So we have a crust that’s solid and the inside is continuing to solidify, but it’s losing its volume as it solidifies.
‘The crust has to crack and settle to accommodate the loss of volume during freezing.’
For now, we know nothing of what surface structures may dominate, since this is the first ever mission to a space rock made of metal – thought to predominantly be iron and nickel. Pictured is an artist’s impression of an asteroid-grabbing spacecraft
‘For the first time ever, we are exploring a world made not of rock or ice, but of metal’ NASA said in a written statement.
For now, we know nothing of what surface structures may dominate, since this is the first ever mission to a space rock made of metal – thought to predominantly made up of iron and nickel.
No asteroid has yet been directly sampled but Nasa aims to change that with its plans to send a probe to the mineral-rich asteroid 16 Psyche.
The object is located in the large asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter and is one of the most mysterious objects in the solar system.
It may have started as a planet before it was partially destroyed during the formation of our star system.
Now, it is a 130 mile (200km) wide chunk of metal, made up of iron, nickel and a number of other rare metals, including gold, platinum and copper.
Nasa announced in January 2017 that it intended to send a probe to the asteroid to sample its chemical make-up in 2022.
Humanity’s next gold rush could take place aboard tiny probes jetting between asteroids. One private company looking to tap into these orbiting minerals is the US firm Deep Space Industries, which envisions using probes to mine asteroids (artist’s impression)
The prospect of sulphur volcanoes rich in iron on the surface of the asteroid will depend on how it cooled. If the cooling of the planet when it formed happened from the outside to the core, then these structures may be visible
Dr Elkins-Tanton has calculated that the iron in 16 Psyche alone, would be worth £8,072 quadrillion ($10,000 quadrillion).
’16 Psyche is the only known object of its kind in the solar system, and this is the only way humans will ever visit a core,’ she added.
‘We learn about inner space by visiting outer space.’
If the asteroid could be transported back to Earth, the iron alone would be worth £8,072 quadrillion ($10,000 quadrillion).
In comparison, all the money on Earth is thought to be worth $60 to $75 trillion (£45-£56 trillion).
Experts have warned that its value would be large enough to destroy commodity prices and cause the world’s economy to collapse.
THE METAL WORLD OF 16 PSYCHE
16 Psyche is located in the large asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, and may have started as a planet, before it was partially destroyed during the formation of the solar system.
Now, it is a 130 mile (200km) wide chunk of metal, made up of iron, nickel and a number of other rare metals, including gold, platinum and copper.
As such, it offers a unique look into the violent collisions that created Earth and the terrestrial planets.
16 Psyche is located in the large asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter
The mission team seeks to determine whether Psyche is the core of an early planet, how old it is, whether it formed in similar ways to Earth’s core, and what its surface is like.
The spacecraft’s instrument payload will include magnetometers, multispectral imagers, and a gamma ray and neutron spectrometer.
Why are asteroids worth so much?
It may be 230 million miles (370 million km) away from Earth, but this asteroid could be worth a small fortune.
16 Psyche is one of the most mysterious objects in our solar system, and scientists could soon be getting a close-up view thanks to a newly confirmed Nasa mission.
If the asteroid could be transported back to Earth, the iron alone would be worth $10,000 quadrillion (£8,072 quadrillion).
It’s value would be large enough to destroy commodity prices and cause the world’s economy – worth $73.7 trillion (£59.5 trillion) – to collapse.
Dr Elkins-Tanton has calculated that the iron in 16 Psyche alone, would be worth $10,000 quadrillion (£8,072 quadrillion).
Assuming the market for asteroid materials is on Earth, this could cause the value of precious metals to plummet, completely devaluing all holdings including those of governments, and all companies involved in mining, distributing and trading such commodities.
