It is a known fact that space agency NASA undertakes several different missions to explore the vast universe outside of planet Earth. These missions usually cost $450 million and are considered to be essential for universal exploration. On Wednesday, NASA announced that it is launching two space probes for exploring distant objects and planets.

One of the space probes is going to go to Jupiter and examine the asteroids around it. These asteroids are quite mysterious in themselves and are burgundy coloured. The second probe is going to probe the 16 Psyche- an all metal asteroid. Interestingly, the 16 Psyche is actually the core of a long dead planet. It was destroyed billions of years ago.

"These missions will help us learn about the infancy of our solar system, a period just 10 million years after the birth of our sun," said Jim Green, the leader of NASA's planetary science program.

The two space crafts, "Lucy" probing the Jupiter asteroids and "Psyche" exploring 16 Psyche, are nothing less than extraordinary in themselves. They join the class of other 12 discovery mission space crafts and these missions have been spectacular in themselves. Previously, they have been able to execute many "first-of" missions including orbiting an asteroid, bringing comet dust, exploring planets and finding the best "next-Earths".

"Lucy" will be examining the asteroids, called "trojan asteroids" that swarm giant gas planet Jupiter. Not much is known about these asteroids except their color and possible age.

"We know very little about these objects," Green said. "They may be captured asteroids, comets, or even Kuiper Belt objects." This particular mission will be 11 years long and will launch in 2021. It will be headed by Harold Levison.

"Psyche" will be examining a "large and rare" asteroid made entirely out of metal (nickel) but covered in water. It is named the 16 Psyche, and is a result of a long dead planet. "Psyche" will be launched in 2021 and will be headed by Linda Elkins-Tanton.