Watch as Nasa launches spacecraft bound to orbit Psyche asteroid

Nasa launched a spacecraft bound to orbit the Psyche asteroid in a mission to improve our understanding of planetary cores and study the space rock's metallic structure.

On Friday 13 October the spacecraft left the Kennedy Space Centre and began a mission that will see it arrive at what is thought to be an ancient remnant of a protoplanet in 2029.

Propelled by a system of solar-electric ion thrusters being used for the first time on an interplanetary mission, the spacecraft - about the size of a small van - is expected to reach its target on the outer fringes of the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter nearly six years from now.

It would then orbit Psyche for 26 months, scanning the asteroid with instruments built to measure the asteroid’s gravity, magnetic proprieties and composition.

Psyche measures roughly 173 miles (279 km) across at its widest point.