There NASA recently announced the date by which a particularly valuable asteroid, the 16 Psychand (with an estimated value of 10,000 trillion dollars) reach Earth. This event is expected for August 2029 and is considered important for theextraction of precious metalsbut it also raises a number of questions about humanity’s priorities in scientific research, which aims to seek wealth with this project.
NASA has described the project as “exploration”, an excellent opportunity to collect samples. In drawing up the value, however, another, more economical, intent of the American Space Agency also appears clear.
When will the 10 trillion asteroid reach Earth?
The research and extraction project involves launching a spacecraft to collect data. The probe spacecraft was launched from Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, on October 13, 2023. The asteroid is expected to arrive inAugust 2029.
Once it reaches the asteroid in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, the probe will orbit Psyche for just over two years. The goal is to measure its gravity, magnetic properties and composition with a collection of specially selected instruments.
Earth’s priorities: the problem of the race for precious materials
In a context where attention is often focused onaccumulation of material resources, we are faced with a disturbing parallel with the film «Don’t Look Up». In the film, the world focuses on the idea of exploiting an asteroid for its resources rather than addressing the grave danger it poses to all of humanity. Even if Psyche will not fall to Earth as in the film, the cinematic narrative reflects the widespread tendency to think of a scientific discovery for its value in terms of material wealth, rather than global well-being and safety.
The space probe’s journey toasteroid 16 Psyche raises further questions about our inordinate pursuit of wealth. For example, who will benefit from the materials if collected?
The value of the asteroid: a perspective
To put the amount of money associated with this asteroid (10,000 trillion dollars) into perspective we can compare it to the value of some common objects.
With 10 trillion dollars you could buy:
- 4 trillion cans of Coca-Cola worth 2.5 euros (bar price);
- 2 trillion coffee cups (price 5 euros);
- 66 billion pairs of running shoes worth 150 euros, allowing every inhabitant of the planet to have a new pair of shoes every week for several years;
- 10 billion smartphones, providing a smartphone to every person on Earth for many generations to come (on average price 1,000 euros);
- 200 million cars, enough to create permanent traffic throughout the world (car price 50 thousand euros);
- approximately 33 million apartments, being able to satisfy the housing needs of a good part of the world’s population (apartment price 300 thousand euros).
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