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If Psyche indeed represents the exposed core of a primordial planetary body, studying it could provide unprecedented insights into planetary differentiation—the process by which planets develop core, mantle, and crust layers. This knowledge is pivotal for understanding the formation and evolution of terrestrial planets, including Earth.
NASA hopes that the Psyche mission will answer fundamental questions about planetary evolution and offer clues about the building blocks of planets, shedding light on how our own planet came to be approximately 4.6 billion years ago.