Nasa sends Psyche spacecraft to rare metal asteroid in first mission of its kind

Scientists believe asteroid may be remains of an early planet’s core, and could shed light on inaccessible centers of rocky planets

Nasa’s Psyche spacecraft rocketed away Friday on a six-year journey to a rare metal-covered asteroid.

Most asteroids tend to be rocky or icy, and this is the first exploration of a metal world. Scientists believe it may be the battered remains of an early planet’s core, and could shed light on the inaccessible centers of Earth and other rocky planets.