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NASA's Psyche Mission to Study Metal-Rich Asteroid in 2029

3/24/2026

Summary

Story summary

National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Psyche spacecraft will arrive at asteroid 16 Psyche in 2029 to study its origins.
The asteroid lies in the main belt between Mars and Jupiter and is metal-rich, possibly a protoplanet's core.
Researchers from the University of Arizona simulated a large crater near its north pole to test the role of porosity.
They found porosity significantly shapes crater formation, offering insight into planetary evolution.

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Story summary

National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Psyche spacecraft will arrive at asteroid 16 Psyche in 2029 to study its origins.
The asteroid lies in the main belt between Mars and Jupiter and is metal-rich, possibly a protoplanet's core.
Researchers from the University of Arizona simulated a large crater near its north pole to test the role of porosity.
They found porosity significantly shapes crater formation, offering insight into planetary evolution.