MISSION TO A METAL WORLD
Scattered throughout space are asteroids with secrets to reveal. They can give us glimpses into the origins of our Solar System and tell us how planets are formed. But more than that, asteroids might even have transported the building blocks of life to Earth. A great deal of space exploration has involved missions to better understand these rocky relics. But this October, the next one – Psyche – is due to launch. As it embarks on its journey to the large metallic asteroid that inspired the mission’s name, it’s hoped Psyche will give scientists the opportunity to gain fresh insights into these ancient astronomical bodies.