NASA’s Psyche spacecraft just got an assist from Mars on the way to its asteroid namesake

NASA’s Psyche spacecraft executed a planned flyby of Mars on May 15, 2026, passing within 2,800 miles of the planet to utilize its gravity for a speed boost and trajectory correction on its six-year journey to asteroid 16 Psyche.

The spacecraft approached Mars at a speed of approximately 12,300 mph, passing closer than Mars’s moons Phobos and Deimos, which orbit at 3,700 and 12,470 miles respectively. This maneuver, part of its mission plan, was designed to conserve fuel and refine its trajectory for the upcoming encounter with the metallic asteroid, expected in July 2029.

NASA confirmed the flyby, with Psyche’s cameras capturing images of Mars during its approach. These images will be transmitted back via NASA’s Deep Space Network over the coming days and weeks, and will be publicly available once received.

Why It Matters

This gravity assist is a critical step in NASA’s mission to explore Psyche, a unique metallic asteroid believed to be part of an early planetary core. Understanding Psyche could provide valuable insights into planetary formation and the Earth’s own core, which is otherwise inaccessible for direct study.

The successful maneuver demonstrates the precision of NASA’s planning and the importance of gravity assists in deep space exploration, enabling the spacecraft to reach its distant target efficiently and with reduced fuel consumption.

Background

NASA’s Psyche mission launched in late 2023, beginning a 2.2-billion-mile journey to its namesake asteroid, which orbits the Sun between Mars and Jupiter. The mission aims to study Psyche’s composition, surface, and structure, with the goal of understanding planetary core formation. The recent flyby marks a key milestone in the mission’s trajectory adjustments, following earlier approach phases where the spacecraft has been capturing images of Mars.

“The Mars flyby was a planned maneuver to boost Psyche’s speed and refine its trajectory, ensuring optimal conditions for its arrival at the asteroid.”

— NASA spokesperson

“Images from the flyby will help us better understand the spacecraft’s current position and prepare for the upcoming encounter with the asteroid.”

— NASA’s Psyche mission team

What Remains Unclear

It remains unclear when the full set of images from the Mars flyby will be received and analyzed. Details about the precise changes in Psyche’s trajectory and speed due to the gravity assist are still being processed, though initial data confirms the maneuver was successful.

What’s Next

NASA will continue transmitting and analyzing images from the flyby. The spacecraft is expected to arrive at asteroid 16 Psyche in July 2029, where it will spend two years orbiting, mapping, and collecting data about its composition.

Key Questions

Why did NASA perform a flyby of Mars for Psyche?

The flyby provided a gravity assist, increasing Psyche’s speed and refining its trajectory, which is essential for conserving fuel and ensuring accurate navigation to the asteroid.

How close did Psyche get to Mars?

The spacecraft passed within 2,800 miles of Mars during the flyby, closer than Mars’s moons Phobos and Deimos.

What will Psyche do once it reaches the asteroid?

It will spend approximately two years orbiting Psyche, conducting surface imaging, mapping, and analyzing its composition to understand its origins and structure.

When will the images from the flyby be available?

Images are expected to be transmitted over the coming days and weeks, with public release once received and processed.