JOURNEY TO A METAL WORLD: THE SEARCH FOR FOSSILS OF MAGNETIC FIELDS ON 16-PSYCHE

Abstract

Right now, NASA’s Psyche spacecraft is making history as the first traveler to a metal-rich asteroid, which is also named Psyche! Psyche could be part or all of the iron-rich core of a planetesimal, an early planetary building block, that was stripped of its outer rocky shell as it repeatedly collided with other large bodies during the early formation of the solar system [1]. The objective for this project was to design and build an interactive museum exhibit about asteroid 16-Psyche’s hypothesized magnetic field which is engaging, durable, accessible, and scientifically accurate, for less than $615 and in no more than ten weeks. The exhibit content should focus on the most fundamental and commonly misunderstood parts of the Psyche Magnetometry Investigation. The exhibit should also be free of any safety hazards, specifically to young children who may interact with the display. A two-sided spinning exhibit was rigorously designed and built from wood, acrylic, and PLA, with scientific content split by past and present. Users can interact with the exhibit through a push button on each side which controls LEDs that illuminate magnetic field lines. It was concluded that most design requirements and project objectives were met, including the objectives for safety and scientific accuracy. However, there are still a range possibilities for future work and continued exhibit improvement, such as revising the display text and conducting research to determine the educational effectiveness of the exhibit. Important lessons learned include the importance of purchasing high quality materials from trusted vendors, and the dangers of exceeding a project deadline and/or budget.