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Why is NASA sending a spacecraft to a metal world? - Linda T. Elkins-Tanton

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In 2026, an unmanned NASA spacecraft is scheduled to arrive at 16 Psyche, a massive, metallic asteroid floating somewhere between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. Why is NASA so interested in this heavy metal asteroid? Are we going to mine all that metal, or build a giant space magnet? Linda T. Elkins-Tanton explains how the real answer can be found right under our feet.

About Space Ed

Space Ed helps you untangle the mysteries of space with the universe’s best videos on everything from Einstein's theory of relativity to what it would take to live on Mars. Brush up on the science, philosophy and mystery of space, because the fabric of the universe is the same fabric that connects us all.

Meet The Creators

  • Content Producer Gerta Xhelo
  • Script Editor Alex Gendler
  • Editorial Producer Alex Rosenthal
  • Narrator Addison Anderson
  • Associate Producer Jessica Ruby, Elizabeth Cox
  • Director Eoin Duffy
  • Educator Linda T. Elkins-Tanton
  • Modeler Derek Prinzi, Jarmyn Tremellen, Bill Gregory, Alex Kurgano
  • Fact-checker Brian Gutierrez
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