12 Incredible Space Missions Set to Unravel Universe's Biggest Mysteries

7. Psyche Mission: The Metal World Explorer

Rocks and ice aren’t the only things floating between Mars and Jupiter—there’s a giant, metal-rich asteroid named Psyche, too. NASA’s Psyche mission is heading right for it, aiming to explore a hunk of exposed planetary core up close. Scheduled to arrive in 2029, the spacecraft will help scientists figure out how planets like ours are born from chaos and collisions. What makes 16 Psyche special? It’s mostly nickel and iron, unlike any other asteroid we’ve studied. By scanning its surface and innards, Psyche could reveal what our own planet’s core looks like—and why some worlds end up rocky, some gassy, and some stuck in between. For geology buffs and daydreamers alike, there’s a certain thrill in finally visiting this mysterious metal world.