Asteroid Mission Captures Rarely Seen Perspective of Mars During Close Flyby
The flyby gave Psyche a 1,000-mile-per-hour boost and a full instrument rehearsal before the spacecraft reaches the metal-rich asteroid in 2029.
- On May 15, NASA's Psyche spacecraft performed a Mars flyby, passing within 2,864 miles of the surface and receiving a 1,000-mile-per-hour speed boost from the planet's gravitational pull.
- Launched in October 2023, the Psyche mission targets a 173-mile-wide metallic asteroid. Scientists suspect the object is the leftover core of an early planetary building block, potentially offering rare insights into rocky worlds like Earth.
- Jim Bell, Psyche imager instrument lead at Arizona State University, stated the flyby provided "unique and important opportunities" to test cameras. The spacecraft captured thousands of images, including views of the Huygens crater.
- With Mars receding, Psyche has returned to its solar-electric propulsion system, which uses steady sunlight-powered thrusters for deep-space travel. Mission planners expect the spacecraft to spend three years reaching the asteroid in 2029.
- Arriving in 2029, Psyche will spend two years orbiting the asteroid to map its composition and structure. Data gathered may confirm whether the object is a planetesimal's core, offering scientists rare insights into rocky worlds.
37 Articles
37 Articles
NASA’s Psyche spacecraft captures stunning Mars images during high-speed flyby
NASA’s Psyche spacecraft skimmed past Mars in a precision flyby that helped catapult it deeper into space toward its ultimate target: the bizarre metal-rich asteroid Psyche. During the encounter, it snapped detailed images of heavily cratered Martian terrain, including the striking double-ring Huygens crater. The flyby gave the spacecraft a critical gravity boost without using extra fuel.
Nasa took a crucial step in a mission that, in addition to its scientific implications, began to generate alarms in global financial markets. On May 15, the Psyche probe successfully performed a gravitational assistance maneuver near Mars, using the planet's gravitational force to adjust its trajectory towards the 16 Psyche asteroid.
Le Journal de Montreal
Le Journal de QuebecNASA's space probe took advantage of a close overflight of Mars to capture new images of the red planet.
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