NASA's Psyche Mission: Journey to a Metal-Rich Asteroid Aboard SpaceX Falcon Heavy

NASA's Psyche spacecraft, launched atop a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket, is on its way to study a metal-rich asteroid called Psyche located in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. This is NASA's first mission to explore an asteroid with more metal than rock or ice. The spacecraft is also carrying a pioneering technology demonstration called Deep Space Optical Communications (DSOC), which will test laser communications beyond the Moon. The mission aims to unlock secrets about planet formation and evolution while advancing optical communication capabilities for future space exploration.