Psyche Spacecraft Completes Mars Flyby

The Psyche (spacecraft), a mission led by United States — NASA>>>, successfully completed a gravity assist maneuver by swinging past Mars>>> on May 15, 2026. This flyby, occurring at a distance of approximately 2,800 miles, provided a crucial velocity boost of about 1,000 miles per hour and adjusted the spacecraft's orbital plane, setting it on course for its primary target, the metal-rich asteroid 16 Psyche. During the maneuver, all of the spacecraft's science instruments, including cameras, a magnetometer, and a gamma-ray and neutron spectrometer, were activated to collect data and undergo calibration. Jim Bell>>>, the imaging team leader from Arizona State University, confirmed the acquisition of thousands of images of Mars>>>. This event served as a vital dress rehearsal for the instruments before the spacecraft's arrival at 16 Psyche in 2029, where it will spend two years studying the asteroid's composition and structure. The mission aims to provide insights into the formation of rocky planets and the early solar system.