NASA’s Psyche Skims 2,864 Miles Above Mars, Boosting 2029 Asteroid Mission
Updated
Updated · NASA · May 20
NASA’s Psyche Skims 2,864 Miles Above Mars, Boosting 2029 Asteroid Mission
7 articles · Updated · NASA · May 20
May 15’s flyby carried NASA’s Psyche spacecraft within 2,864 miles of Mars, marking the mission’s successful close approach on its route to asteroid Psyche.
Mars’ gravity supplied the key speed boost and shifted the spacecraft’s orbital plane without using onboard propellant, refining its path toward the metal-rich target.
Images from Psyche’s multispectral imager captured the double-ring Huygens crater and the heavily cratered southern highlands during the pass.
August 2029 is the planned arrival, when the spacecraft will enter orbit around asteroid Psyche, map it and collect science data.
If Psyche is the exposed metallic core of an ancient planetesimal, the mission could offer a rare look at the interior of rocky planets such as Earth.
With thrusters 25 times more powerful now in testing, could future deep-space missions skip gravity assists?
If Psyche is a giant metal core, what does this imply for the future of asteroid mining?
What key evidence will Psyche seek to prove the asteroid is an ancient planet's metallic core?
NASA Psyche Mission: How the 2026 Mars Flyby Sets the Stage for Humanity’s First Exploration of a Metal World in 2029
Overview
The NASA Psyche mission reached a major milestone with its successful Mars flyby on May 15, 2026. This maneuver propelled the spacecraft further on its journey toward the metal-rich asteroid Psyche and allowed the mission team to test and calibrate the science instruments. The close encounter with Mars not only set Psyche on the correct trajectory but also brought scientists closer to understanding the origins of Earth. After the flyby, the spacecraft is now directly headed for its primary target, with the team confirming its path using radio signals exchanged with NASA’s Deep Space Network.