NASA Captures an Asteroid 70k Times Valuable Than the Global Economy

This rare metal asteroid is valued at US$10,000,000,000,000,000,000.

NASA Captures an Asteroid 70k Times Valuable Than the Global Economy
NASA

NASA has done it again. It has found something splendid and spectacular that cannot be called cheap. It has discovered a rare asteroid which is quite huge and is orbiting between Jupiter and Mars. The main attraction point of this asteroid is its value. It is worth is around USD 10,000 quadrillion. The rare asteroid is known as 16 Psyche, and the details of it were published in a new study in The Planetary Science Journal.

 

Though 16 Psyche was discovered in 1852, thanks to NASA’s Hubble Telescope, the people of earth have gotten a closer look at it. The journal has indicated that the composition of the asteroid is the key to its astronomical value. The value is somewhere around USD 10,000,000,000,000,000,00 (A$14,000,000,000,000,000,000.00). This number with so many zeroes make the asteroid 70,000 times more valuable that the global economy was in 2019. For those who are unaware, it was USD 142 trillion in 2019.

 

NASA’s discovery 16 Psyche Asteroid is around 140 miles in diameter and seems to be completely made up of nickel and iron. This metallic construction makes it worthier and sets it apart from other asteroids that usually comprise of ice or rock.

Dr Tracy Becker, who is the author of the new paper on NASA’s discovery and a planetary scientist said, “We’ve seen meteorites that are mostly metal, but Psyche could be unique in that it might be an asteroid that is totally made of iron and nickel.”

 

NASA Captures an Asteroid 70k Times Valuable Than the Global Economy
NASA

 

Dr Becker also thinks that Psyche might be a leftover core of a planet that was not properly formed and was probably hit by objects in the solar system. The crash might have led to that planet, possibly losing its mantle and crust.

 

Becker added, “To understand what really makes up a planet and to potentially see the inside of a planet is fascinating.

“Once we get to Psyche, we’re really going to understand if that’s the case, even if it doesn’t turn out as we expect. Any time there’s a surprise, it’s always exciting.”

 

NASA’s discovery is about 230 million miles from our planet and is orbiting between Jupiter and Mars. Interestingly, NASA is planning to visit it again in 2022 via a Psyche spacecraft to study it. If NASA manages to bring it back, each person on the planet (7.5 billion) will have USD 1.3 billion.