NASA launch mission for golden asteroid that could make everyone a billionaire
A groundbreaking NASA mission which is set to launch could have a major impact on the economy.
On October 5, NASA's Psyche spacecraft is gearing up for a six-year journey to the asteroid 16 Psyche, nestled in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.
Scientists have long been intrigued by 16 Psyche's potential value, with some speculating that the asteroid could hold an astonishing wealth of precious metals, estimated to be worth more than $10,000 quadrillion (£8,072 quadrillion) - enough to make everyone on earth a billionaire.
But Dr. Linda Elkins-Tanton, a space scientist at MIT, has presented an intriguing scenario: If 16 Psyche does indeed harbor an immense amount of precious metals, their potential market value could lead to economic chaos.
With the iron alone estimated to be worth $10,000 quadrillion (£8,072 quadrillion), the sudden influx of these metals on Earth could disrupt commodity markets, destabilizing economies worldwide.
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The Psyche spacecraft has been described by engineers as being 'slightly bigger than a Smart Car (NASA/Frank Michaux/SWNS)Dr. Elkins-Tanton posed the question of whether these precious metals should be hoarded, controlled, and monopolized, or if they should be utilized to address humanity's metal resource challenges on a global scale Speaking to Global News Canada, she said: "Even if we could grab a big metal piece and drag it back here … what would you do?
"Could you kind of sit on it and hide it and control the global resource – kind of like diamonds are controlled corporately – and protect your market?
"What if you decided you were going to bring it back and you were just going to solve the metal resource problems of humankind for all time? This is wild speculation obviously."
The Psyche spacecraft has been described by engineers as being 'slightly bigger than a Smart Car (NASA/Frank Michaux/SWNS)While skeptics argue that it might simply be a mass of hard rock, NASA's Psyche spacecraft is primed to put the debate to rest about its value, while the economic impact remains unclear.
During its 26-month orbit around 16 Psyche, the spacecraft will also capture an array of images and gather invaluable data, shedding light on the asteroid's history and composition.
This wealth of information is expected to encompass details about the asteroid's topography, gravitational properties, and elemental distribution.
The Psyche spacecraft, managed by Henry Stone at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California, recently completed a successful test campaign of its flight software, overcoming previous delays to meet its revised launch date.
Engineers and technicians have been working at Cape Canaveral to ensure a smooth lift-off for the spacecraft atop a SpaceX Falcon Heavy.
Once the Psyche spacecraft escapes Earth's gravity, it will utilize solar electric propulsion to traverse the vast 2.5 billion miles (4 billion kilometers) to reach the asteroid. Scientists hope to learn not only about the asteroid's metal content but also about planetary cores and the process of planet formation.
Considering the possible outcomes, the mission assumes an even greater significance. Dr. Elkins-Tanton posed the question of whether these precious metals should be hoarded, controlled, and monopolized, or if they should be utilized to address humanity's metal resource challenges on a global scale.
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