NASA's Psyche Probe Set For Close Mars Flyby To Reach Metal Asteroid
NASA's Psyche spacecraft will perform a gravity-assist flyby about 2,800 miles above Mars on Friday, May 15, 2026, to gain speed and steer toward a rare metal asteroid.[1]
Psyche launched in October 2023 and is on a six-year, 2.2-billion-mile voyage to the metal-rich asteroid Psyche in the main belt.[1] The Mars swing-by will tweak the probe's trajectory and boost its speed ahead of an arrival slated for the end of 2029.[1] Mission controllers have already captured an image of Mars from about 3 million miles away and plan to record a time-lapse during the close pass.[1]
Psyche launched in October 2023 and will use the Mars gravity assist as a key midpoint in its planned six-year journey to study a nickel- and iron-rich body.[1] Once the spacecraft reaches asteroid Psyche, NASA expects to spend roughly two years imaging it and analyzing its composition.[1]
The close Mars encounter is the mission's first planetary gravity assist and a critical maneuver to set up Psyche's science campaign at the asteroid.[1]
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📌 Key Facts
- On Friday, May 15, 2026, NASA's Psyche spacecraft will perform a gravity-assist flyby about 2,800 miles above Mars.
- Psyche launched in October 2023 and is on a six-year, 2.2-billion-mile voyage to metal-rich asteroid Psyche in the main belt.
- The Mars flyby will boost the spacecraft's speed and adjust its trajectory, with arrival at asteroid Psyche expected at the end of 2029.
- Operators have already captured an image of Mars from about 3 million miles away and plan a time-lapse of the flyby.
- Once in orbit, Psyche will spend roughly two years imaging the asteroid and analyzing its nickel- and iron-rich composition.
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