NASA Psyche probe flies past Mars, heads toward metallic asteroid
NASA's Psyche spacecraft has successfully flown past Mars, continuing its journey toward its primary target: the metal-rich asteroid Psyche. During the flyby on May 15, 2026, the craft approached within 4,609 kilometers of the planet's surface. This was reported by Ixbt.com .
This gravity assist allowed the craft to increase its speed by 1,600 kilometers per hour without consuming fuel and to adjust its trajectory. Following the flyby, mission specialists analyzed radio signals received via NASA's Deep Space Network (DSN) and confirmed that the craft is on its intended path.
During the Mars flyby, all instruments on board Psyche, including cameras, magnetometers, and spectrometers, were activated for calibration and testing. The craft captured thousands of images of Mars, providing unique data to verify the precision of the instruments.
The probe is scheduled to reach the Psyche asteroid, located in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, in August 2029. Managed by Arizona State University, this mission is the 14th project of NASA's Discovery Program.
Scientists believe the Psyche asteroid may be the metallic core of an ancient planetesimal. Studying it is expected to provide valuable insights into the internal structure and formation processes of planets like Earth.
