NASA’s Psyche Spacecraft Successfully Executes Mars Gravity-Assist Flyby
On May 15, 2026, NASA’s Psyche spacecraft successfully performed a critical gravity-assist flyby of Mars, passing approximately 2,800 miles above the surface. This maneuver utilized Mars’ gravitational pull to adjust the probe’s trajectory and accelerate it toward its final destination, the metal-rich asteroid 16 Psyche, while conserving propellant. The flyby also allowed scientists to cal onboard instruments for future observations. Scheduled to reach the asteroid in 2029, the mission aims to study the exposed core of a protoplanet, offering insights into planetary formation.
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NASA's Psyche Probe Captures Stunning Mars Images During Gravity Assist Flyby
NASA's Psyche probe, launched in October 2023 toward the metallic asteroid Psyche, performed a successful Mars flyby on its journey. The spacecraft passed within 4,609 kilometers of the Martian surface, using the planet's gravity to increase its velocity and adjust its trajectory toward the asteroid belt. During the maneuver, NASA activated the probe's cameras, magnetometers, and spectrometers to calibrate instruments using Mars' atmosphere and terrain. The resulting images show detailed rugged Martian surface, craters, the south polar cap with water ice, and traces of solar wind. The probe reached a speed of 1,600 km/h and shifted its orbit by one degree. It is scheduled to arrive at the asteroid Psyche in August 2029, where it will orbit and map the metallic body believed to be a planetesimal core, helping scientists better understand Earth's interior.
WIREDNASA spacecraft captures images of bluish Mars during high-speed flyby
NASA's Psyche spacecraft, en route to the metallic asteroid 16 Psyche, captured striking images of Mars during a high-speed flyby on May 15, 2026. The probe passed just 4,609 kilometers from the Martian surface, using the planet's gravity for a gravity assist maneuver that increased its speed by approximately 1,600 km/h without consuming additional fuel. The images, taken with the spacecraft's multispectral instrument, show ancient cratered regions of Mars' southern hemisphere, including the double-ringed Huygens Crater, the Syrtis Major region with wind traces over craters, and the water-ice-rich south polar cap. Some photographs depict Mars with a bluish glow due to sunlight scattering in the dust-laden atmosphere, while others show the planet as a thin illuminated crescent from the craft's unique approach angle. The flyby also adjusted Psyche's orbital plane, enabling a more efficient journey to the asteroid belt.
La República: Últimas noticias de última hora del Perú y el mundoNASA's Psyche spacecraft beams back blue images of Mars during gravity assist flyby
NASA's Psyche spacecraft, en route to the metal-rich asteroid 16 Psyche, successfully completed a close flyby of Mars on May 15, 2026, passing within 2,864 miles of the surface. The probe used the gravity assist to increase its speed by approximately 1,000 mph and shift its orbital plane. During the flyby, Psyche's multispectral cameras captured stunning images, including a close-up of the double-ringed Huygens crater, wind streaks over craters in the Syrtis Major region, and the water-ice-rich south polar cap. The spacecraft also obtained rare crescent views of Mars and observed sunlight scattering through the dusty atmosphere. The imaging campaign is part of calibrating the cameras before the probe's scheduled arrival at asteroid 16 Psyche in August 2029, where it will map and study the exposed core of a planetesimal. The asteroid is thought to contain metals worth quadrillions of dollars, though no extraction plan exists.
Latest from Live ScienceNASA's Psyche spacecraft captures stunning Mars images during high-speed flyby
NASA's Psyche spacecraft successfully performed a precision flyby of Mars on May 15, 2026, passing within 2,864 miles of the planet's surface. During the encounter, the spacecraft's multispectral imager captured detailed images of heavily cratered Martian terrain, including the prominent double-ring Huygens crater, which is about 290 miles in diameter. The flyby served as a critical gravity assist maneuver, increasing the spacecraft's speed and adjusting its trajectory toward its ultimate destination—the metal-rich asteroid Psyche—without consuming onboard fuel. The mission, launched by NASA, aims to arrive at the asteroid in August 2029, where it will enter orbit and map the surface. Scientists believe the asteroid may be the exposed metallic core of an ancient planetesimal, offering a rare opportunity to study material from deep inside rocky planets like Earth.
Latest Science News -- ScienceDailyNASA's Psyche Spacecraft Captures Stunning New Mars Images During Strategic Flyby
NASA's Psyche spacecraft, en route to study the metallic asteroid 16 Psyche, successfully performed a gravity assist flyby of Mars on May 15, 2026, passing within 2,864 miles of the planet's surface. The maneuver increased the spacecraft's speed by 1,000 mph without using propellant and set it on course to reach its target asteroid by summer 2029. During the flyby, Psyche captured thousands of images of Mars, appearing as a dramatic crescent from the spacecraft's perspective. The images also served to test and calibrate the mission's scientific instruments. NASA compared data with other Martian spacecraft including Curiosity, Perseverance, Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, and ESA's Mars Express. The Psyche mission launched on October 13, 2023, and aims to determine whether the metal-rich asteroid is a planetary building block called a planetesimal, potentially revealing how Earth's core formed.
Latest articles | smithsonianmag.comNASA's Psyche Mission Completes Mars Flyby, Heads for Metal-Rich Asteroid
NASA's Psyche spacecraft successfully completed a flyby of Mars on May 15, 2026, using the planet's gravity for a slingshot maneuver that accelerated it by 1,000 miles per hour and shifted its orbital plane by about 1 degree. The flyby served both as a trajectory adjustment and an opportunity to test and calibrate the spacecraft's science instruments, including its multispectral imager. Psyche captured several images of Mars, including a crescent view, the southern polar water-ice cap, the Valles Marineris region, craters in Syrtis Major, and the ancient Huygens crater. The spacecraft is now on course to arrive at its primary target, the metal-rich asteroid 16 Psyche, in summer 2029. The mission aims to study the asteroid, believed to be the exposed core of a planetesimal, to gain insights into planetary cores including Earth's.
Universe TodayNASA's Psyche Spacecraft Captures Mars Crescent Photo During Gravity Assist
NASA's Psyche spacecraft, en route to the asteroid Psyche, successfully performed a gravity assist maneuver by flying past Mars last week. During the flyby, the spacecraft captured stunning images of a crescent Mars. The maneuver used the planet's gravity to boost the spacecraft's speed and adjust its trajectory, saving fuel and shortening its journey to the main asteroid belt. The mission aims to study the metallic asteroid Psyche, which may be the exposed core of an early planet. The flyby provided a valuable opportunity to test the spacecraft's imaging instruments.
Scientific AmericanNASA's Psyche Probe Captures Stunning Mars Images During Gravity Assist Flyby
NASA's Psyche spacecraft, en route to the metal-rich asteroid 16 Psyche, successfully performed a gravity assist flyby of Mars on May 15, 2026, passing within 2,864 miles (4,609 km) of the planet's surface. The probe captured striking crescent images of Mars using its multispectral imager, which can detect both visible and near-infrared light. The images revealed the planet's dusty atmosphere scattering light, making the crescent appear brighter and more extended than expected. The flyby provides a trajectory boost for the spacecraft's journey to the asteroid belt, where it is scheduled to arrive in 2029 to study 16 Psyche, which scientists believe may be composed largely of precious metals potentially worth more than the global economy.
Latest from Space.comNASA's Psyche Spacecraft Completes Mars Gravity Assist Maneuver
NASA's Psyche spacecraft successfully executed a planned gravity assist flyby of Mars on May 15, 2026, passing within 2,800 miles of the planet. This maneuver, which brought the probe closer to Mars than its own moons Phobos and Deimos, was designed to boost the spacecraft's speed to 12,300 mph and adjust its trajectory toward the metallic asteroid 16 Psyche while conserving xenon propellant. During the approach, Psyche captured images of Mars appearing as a thin crescent, which will be transmitted via NASA's Deep Space Network. Launched in late 2023, the spacecraft is on a six-year, 2.2-billion-mile journey expected to conclude in July 2029. Upon arrival, Psyche will spend two years orbiting the asteroid to map its surface and analyze its composition. Scientists believe 16 Psyche is the exposed core of a protoplanet, offering a unique opportunity to study the violent early history of planetary formation and gain insights into the structure of Earth's own inaccessible metal core.
Engadget - Technology News & Expert ReviewsNASA's Psyche Spacecraft Uses Mars Gravity Assist for Asteroid Mission
NASA's Psyche spacecraft successfully executed a critical flyby of Mars on May 15, 2026, utilizing the planet's gravity to adjust its trajectory and increase speed. This maneuver, known as a gravity assist, allows the spacecraft to conserve fuel while heading toward its primary destination: the metal-rich asteroid 16 Psyche, located between Mars and Jupiter. During the flyby, the probe passed within approximately 2,800 miles of Mars at speeds reaching 12,333 mph. The mission aims to study 16 Psyche, which scientists believe may be the exposed core of a primordial protoplanet stripped of its outer layers by ancient collisions. By analyzing this unique celestial body, researchers hope to gain unprecedented insights into the formation of rocky planets like Earth. The successful Mars assist marks a significant milestone, placing the spacecraft on course to reach the asteroid in 2029. This event highlights the importance of gravity assists in modern spaceflight, enabling missions to travel farther and faster than rocket propulsion alone would permit.
Latest from Space.comNASA's Psyche Spacecraft Uses Mars Gravity Assist for Asteroid Mission
NASA's Psyche spacecraft successfully executed a critical flyby of Mars on May 15, utilizing the Red Planet's gravity to adjust its trajectory and increase speed. This maneuver, known as a gravity assist, is essential for conserving fuel and enabling the probe to reach its final destination, the metal-rich asteroid 16 Psyche, by 2029. During the flyby, the spacecraft passed within approximately 2,800 miles (4,500 kilometers) of Mars, traveling at roughly 12,333 mph. While the mission's primary goal is not to study Mars, this precise orbital adjustment allows Psyche to head toward the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. Scientists hypothesize that asteroid 16 Psyche is the exposed core of a shattered protoplanet, offering a unique opportunity to study planetary interiors. This event marks a significant milestone in the mission, demonstrating the effective use of celestial mechanics to facilitate deep space exploration without excessive propellant consumption.
Latest from Space.comNASA's Psyche Probe Uses Mars Gravity Assist for Asteroid Mission
NASA's Psyche spacecraft is executing a critical flyby of Mars to utilize the planet's gravity for a trajectory adjustment toward the metal-rich asteroid Psyche. This maneuver, occurring on May 15, 2026, involves passing within 4,500 kilometers of Mars at high speed to accelerate the probe without consuming significant xenon propellant from its ion propulsion system. Launched in October 2023, the mission aims to explore the largest known metallic asteroid in the solar system, believed to be the exposed core of an ancient protoplanet. The flyby also serves as an opportunity to calibrate scientific instruments, including multispectral cameras. Scheduled to arrive in August 2029, the probe will orbit the asteroid for 26 months, analyzing its composition, gravity, and magnetic fields to provide insights into the formation of rocky planets like Earth. The mission concludes in 2031. While the asteroid contains valuable metals, the primary goal is scientific understanding rather than resource extraction.
Folha de S.Paulo - Em cima da hora - PrincipalNASA's Psyche Mission Executes Gravity-Assist Flyby of Mars
NASA's Psyche spacecraft successfully performed a gravity-assist flyby of Mars on May 15, 2026, more than two years after its launch. Passing approximately 2,800 miles above the Red Planet at speeds exceeding 12,000 mph, the mission utilized Mars' gravitational pull to adjust its trajectory and accelerate toward its final destination, the metal-rich asteroid Psyche. Prior to the encounter, engineers fired the spacecraft's thrusters for 12 hours to refine its approach. While the primary objective was navigational, the flyby provided a valuable opportunity for scientists to calibrate onboard instruments, including the multispectral imager, against a large celestial body. This calibration serves as a rehearsal for future observations at the asteroid. The mission, led by principal investigator Lindy Elkins-Tanton, is scheduled to reach the Psyche asteroid in 2029. The maneuver highlights the continued use of gravity-assist techniques, famously employed by the Voyager missions, to conserve propellant and achieve precise deep-space trajectories. Scientists will analyze Doppler shifts in signal data to confirm the spacecraft's new speed and path definitively.
www.theregister.com - ArticlesNASA's Psyche Mission Executes Mars Gravity Assist Flyby
NASA's Psyche spacecraft successfully performed a gravity assist flyby of Mars on May 15, 2026, more than two years after its October 2023 launch. Passing approximately 2,800 miles above the Red Planet at speeds exceeding 12,000 mph, the mission utilized Mars' gravitational pull to adjust its trajectory and accelerate toward its final destination, the metal-rich asteroid Psyche. Prior to the encounter, engineers fired the spacecraft's thrusters for 12 hours to refine its approach. While the primary objective was navigational, the flyby provided a valuable opportunity for scientific calibration. Instruments such as the multispectral imager captured thousands of observations of Mars, allowing scientists to test and calibrate equipment on a large celestial body before reaching the asteroid. Mission officials described this bonus science as instrumental preparation for the main mission phase. The spacecraft is scheduled to arrive at the Psyche asteroid in 2029. This maneuver highlights the continued use of gravity assist techniques, a strategy famously employed by the Voyager missions, to save propellant and achieve precise deep-space trajectories through careful planning by trajectory experts at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
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