$10,026,000,000,000,000,000
asteroid found: This NASA find can make everyone on Earth a billionaire
Produced by: Manoj Kumar
Quintillion Rock
A £8 quintillion asteroid, 16 Psyche, is rich in precious metals like platinum and palladium. Discovered in 1852, this space treasure could hypothetically make every person on Earth a billionaire, worth £996,884,735 each.
Credit : NASA
Metal Core
Believed to be 30-60% metal, some scientists hypothesize 16 Psyche is the exposed core of a “planetesimal,” an early planetary building block stripped by violent cosmic collisions.
Credit : NASA
Ferro Eruption
Another theory suggests “ferro-volcanism,” where liquid metal eruptions shaped the asteroid. This rare geological process could explain its unique metallic structure.
Credit : NASA
Space Chase
Launched via SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy in October 2023, NASA’s Psyche spacecraft is en route to the asteroid, now 391 million kilometers away. It’s a six-year journey, with arrival set for August 2029.
Orbit Only
Don’t expect a landing. The spacecraft will orbit 16 Psyche, gathering data to unravel its composition and origins. NASA’s goal: understanding planetary cores, not mining wealth.
Credit : NASA
Economic Chaos
If mined, the asteroid’s estimated £8,000,000,000,000,000,000 value could destabilize global markets. Such an influx of wealth might crash the economy, redefining global trade systems.
Credit : NASA
Tech Gamechanger
Platinum and palladium found on the asteroid are critical for making electronics and cars. Harvesting these could transform industries back on Earth, but the logistics remain a challenge.
Historical Quest
The asteroid’s discovery by Italian astronomer Annibale de Gasparis in 1852 marked a milestone in celestial mapping. Now, NASA aims to use it to decode the universe’s history.
2030s Revelation
The final findings from the Psyche spacecraft’s mission won’t be known until the early 2030s. Whether core remnant or volcanic enigma, 16 Psyche promises to reshape our cosmic knowledge.
Credit : NASA