NASA is preparing to capture 16 Psyche, an asteroid estimated to be worth $10 quintillion because of its rich deposits of gold, iron, and nickel. This mission began in October 2023, with the spacecraft traveling at 84,000 mph and expected to arrive in 2029.
16 Psyche is thought to be the exposed core of a long-lost planet, covering around 64,000 square miles and made up of up to 60 percent metal. If its wealth were divided among everyone on Earth, each person could theoretically receive over a billion dollars.
However, many experts and observers worry that introducing such massive quantities of precious metals could collapse their market value, leaving many worse off financially.
As NASA’s mission advances, it could unlock secrets about planetary formation or cause major shifts in the world economy. Only time will tell what this metal-rich asteroid truly means for humanity.
