On May 15, 2026, NASA’s Psyche spacecraft made a close flyby of Mars, using the planet as a giant gravitational slingshot on its journey to the metal-rich asteroid Psyche.
NASA had predicted that the spacecraft would pass about 2,800 miles (4,500 km) above the Martian surface; after the encounter, navigation data showed that its actual closest approach was 2,864 miles (4,609 km). Mars’ gravity increased the spacecraft’s speed by about 1,000 mph (1,600 km/h) and shifted its orbital plane by roughly one degree, accomplishing the maneuver without consuming onboard propellant.
The encounter also gave scientists an opportunity to test Psyche’s multispectral cameras, magnetometer, and gamma-ray and neutron spectrometer on a well-studied planet before the spacecraft reaches its much less familiar destination. Psyche captured unusual images of Mars, including its dusty crescent and south polar region, while its instruments collected scientific data that researchers could compare with existing knowledge of the planet.
Psyche is now traveling toward asteroid 16 Psyche, where it is scheduled to arrive in August 2029 and enter orbit. Scientists hope studying this unusual, metal-rich world will provide clues about the building blocks and interiors of rocky planets such as Earth.
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