During its journey to a metallic asteroid, NASA’s Psyche spacecraft executed a close flyby of Mars on May 15, capturing spectacular images of the Red Planet from rare, high-angle perspectives, including illuminated crescent phases and a nearly “full Mars” view.
Flyby Details & Mission Goals.
- The Encounter: On May 15, Psyche swept within (2,864) miles ((4,609) kilometers) of the Martian surface.
- Gravity Assist: The planet’s gravitational pull acted as a natural slingshot, boosting the spacecraft’s speed by roughly (1,000) mph and adjusting its orbital plane by about 1 degree relative to the Sun.
- The Ultimate Target: The spacecraft is coasting through the solar system to study Asteroid 16 Psyche, which scientists believe could be the exposed core of an ancient planetary building block.
Rare Martian Perspectives Captured
- Crescent & Full Views: Because of how the spacecraft approached, Psyche viewed Mars as a beautifully illuminated thin crescent. After passing the planet, it looked back to capture a rare, nearly “full Mars” view that showcased areas stretching from the icy south polar cap all the way to the Valles Marineris canyon system.
- Surface Details: The spacecraft’s cameras and science instruments—which were turned on for a critical calibration and training run—also captured detailed close-ups of features like the massive double-ring Huygens Crater, bright water-ice polar caps, and dusty wind streaks scattered across Martian craters.
What Happens Next
With the gravity assist successfully completed, Psyche will continue its 2.2-billion-mile journey and is scheduled to reach the asteroid belt for a rendezvous in the summer of 2029. You can relive the trajectory and track the spacecraft’s ongoing journey using NASA’s Eyes on the Solar System app.