Psyche gets ready for Psyche

 

The NASA Psyche spacecraft/mission is getting its final readiness checks before shipping to the launchpad. It's schedule to launch in October -- October 5 if nothing changes.

The mission is to go visit Psyche, the asteroid, an asteroid that might be made of heavy metal, including precious metal.  "Might" and "maybe" apply.

So first, an article about the readiness prep.

NASA’s Psyche mission prepares to explore golden asteroid worth quadrillions

" “Our focus has shifted to safely completing the final mechanical closeout of the spacecraft and preparing the team for operations,” said Henry Stone, Psyche’s project manager in a statement on July 18, 2023."

OK, now a bit more about Psyche. Is it really worth that much?

Probably not.

16 Psyche: An asteroid once thought to be worth $700 quintillion

"If the Brown and Purdue University team's estimates are found to be true, 16 Psyche might be viewed by prospective miners as the asteroid equivalent of a fraudulent gold bar that's really cheap metal covered in gold coating."

This is the best look that telescopes have provided thus far.