Photo: Rubin/NASA/JPL-Caltech 

The asteroid 16 Psyche, one of the most massive objects in the main asteroid belt orbiting between Mars and Jupiter, could be made entirely of metal.

Even more intriguing, the asteroid's metal is worth an estimated $10,000 quadrillion, more than the entire economy of Earth.

NASA is preparing to launch a spacecraft (also dubbed Psyche), which will travel to the asteroid as part of an effort to understand the origin of planetary cores. The mission is set to launch in 2022 and will arrive at the asteroid in 2026.

Metal asteroids are relatively rare in the solar system, and scientists believe Psyche could offer a unique opportunity to see inside a planet.

Source: USA Today