NASA's Psyche probe, launched in October 2023, is preparing for a key Mars flyby on May 15, 2026. It will pass 4,500 km from the Martian surface to use its gravity as a natural boost. This maneuver will optimize its trajectory toward the metallic asteroid 16 Psyche, saving fuel on the journey.
Gravitational assist to save resources 🚀
During the maneuver, the spacecraft will reach a speed of 19,848 km/h. Mars' gravity will act as a catalyst, altering the trajectory without using additional propellant. This flyby is the only one scheduled for the mission. Engineers have calculated the route to maximize the efficiency of the boost, allowing the probe to reach its destination with just enough fuel for its scientific operations.
The most expensive (and distant) space mine in the solar system 💎
Asteroid 16 Psyche has an estimated value in the quintillions of dollars, but don't get your hopes up: bringing that metal to Earth remains a science fiction dream. NASA is not looking to open an extraterrestrial gift shop, but rather to study an exposed planetary core. Meanwhile, the probe is taking a ride past Mars to gain momentum, like someone hitching a ride on a cosmic highway.