NASA’s Psyche spacecraft uses Mars as a giant slingshot toward a mysterious metal world
NASA's Psyche spacecraft successfully completed a close flyby of Mars, using the planet's gravity to gain speed for its journey to the asteroid Psyche. The maneuver provided a boost of approximately 1,000 mph and allowed for the capture of unique images of Mars. Following the flyby, the spacecraft is on track to reach its target in the asteroid belt by summer 2029.
- ▪The Psyche spacecraft passed within 2,864 miles of Mars during its flyby.
- ▪The spacecraft gained a speed boost of about 1,000 mph without using additional fuel.
- ▪Psyche's instruments were tested during the flyby, capturing thousands of images of Mars.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
Science News from research organizations NASA’s Psyche spacecraft uses Mars as a giant slingshot toward a mysterious metal world Date: May 26, 2026 Source: NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory Summary: NASA’s Psyche spacecraft just used Mars as a giant gravitational slingshot to continue its journey toward a strange metal rich asteroid. The close flyby boosted the spacecraft’s speed by about 1,000 mph while also producing rare crescent images of Mars glowing through its dusty atmosphere. Share: Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIN Email FULL STORY This view of a crescent Mars was captured on May 15, 2026, at about 5:03 a.m. PDT by NASA’s Psyche mission as it approached the planet for a gravity assist.
…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at ScienceDaily.
Discussion
0 commentsMore from ScienceDaily
