NASA's Psyche mission, bound for the metallic asteroid of the same name in the main asteroid belt, is preparing for a major milestone in its journey - On May 15, 2026, the spacecraft will fly within approximately 4500 km of the Red Planet's surface, using its gravity as a natural accelerator. This is the mission's only such maneuver—and also its most important one.
The Psyche interplanetary station was launched on October 13, 2023. In space, it is propelled by xenon-fueled electric plasma thrusters powered by solar panels. These generate a stable but weak thrust. For example, to perform a gravity assist maneuver near Mars, the station's boost operation began. Using Mars' gravitational field makes it possible to significantly optimize the flight trajectory and fuel consumption: the planet will "nudge" the spacecraft, giving it additional momentum on its way to the target asteroid. At its closest approach to Mars, Psyche's speed will be approximately 19,848 km/h.
Beyond the maneuver itself, the Mars flyby is also of scientific interest. It will allow engineers to test the onboard systems, calibrate scientific instruments, and conduct test observations. On May 3, 2026, the spacecraft took a photograph of Mars from a distance of approximately 4,8 million km, capturing the planet's unusual crescent-shaped silhouette. Scattered sunlight in Mars' dusty atmosphere created a characteristic aurora around it, making the image particularly striking (image below).
The mission's ultimate target is asteroid 16 Psyche, a unique celestial body composed predominantly of metals. Scientists speculate that it may be part of the core of an ancient protoplanet, stripped of its outer layers by powerful collisions during the early stages of the Solar System's formation. Studying this object will help better understand the formation of the terrestrial planets, including Earth, and a successful flyby of Mars will be an important step toward achieving this scientific goal.
The estimated value of the asteroid's metals is up to $100 billion. It may one day be mined. Currently, the value of this object lies purely in the scientific realm—we cannot see the Earth's structure in cross-section, especially its core. Asteroid Psyche offers a unique opportunity to see what this might look like.
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Source: 3dnews.ru
