More than the Earth's entire global metal reserves.🪐
'Mini Psyches' provide insight into future space mining operations
The team behind the new study based their findings on spectrum analysis, a scientific method that analyzes the electromagnetic emissions observed through telescopes to decipher the properties of distant stars and planets. "Our analysis shows that both near-Earth asteroids have surfaces with 85% metal such as iron and nickel and 15% silicate material, which is basically rock," lead author Juan Sanchez, who is based at the Planetary Science Institute, explained in."These asteroids are similar to some stony-iron meteorites such as mesosiderites found on Earth."
Sanchez and his team believe that their findings might also provide a clue as to the composition of 16 Psyche, which is currently too far away from Earth for precise spectrum analysis — though it is estimated to contain $700 quintillion worth of precious metals, NASA will send a to remove all doubt. The researchers dubbed the two asteroids in their studies"mini Psyches" as they provide insight into the types of asteroids that might one day be targets of space mining operations.
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