Psyche Spacecraft Uses Mars for Gravity Assist on Asteroid Mission

NASA's Psyche spacecraft successfully performed a gravitational slingshot maneuver around Mars in May 2026, skimming approximately 2,864 miles above the planet. This crucial maneuver altered the spacecraft's path and speed without expending additional propellant, setting it on a direct course toward the metal-rich asteroid 16 Psyche. The flyby also provided an opportunity to calibrate Psyche's science instruments, with arrival at the asteroid planned for summer 2029.