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NASA Psyche Uses Mars Flyby, Heads to 16 Psyche 2029

5/26/2026

Summary

Psyche Mars Flyby

NASA’s Psyche spacecraft flew by Mars on May 15, 2026, at 2,864 miles distance.
Using Mars’s gravity, the probe accelerated to about 12,333 mph and tilted its orbit without fuel, aided by precise navigation and Hall-effect thruster burns.
The gravity assist set Psyche on a path to asteroid 16 Psyche for an August 2029 arrival, after which it will orbit for 817 days to map topography, magnetic fields and composition.

Summary

Psyche Probe Launch

The Psyche probe launched on Oct. 13, 2023 aboard a Falcon Heavy from Kennedy Space Center, marking a commercial partnership.
Scientists say asteroid 16 Psyche is a metallic core rich in iron, nickel and precious metals.
Estimates value those metals at many quadrillions of dollars, but no extraction plan exists.
NASA’s Deep Space Network confirmed after Mars assist that Psyche will arrive in August 2029, using the flyby as a final stress-test before the cruise.

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Psyche Mars Flyby

NASA’s Psyche spacecraft flew by Mars on May 15, 2026, at 2,864 miles distance.
Using Mars’s gravity, the probe accelerated to about 12,333 mph and tilted its orbit without fuel, aided by precise navigation and Hall-effect thruster burns.
The gravity assist set Psyche on a path to asteroid 16 Psyche for an August 2029 arrival, after which it will orbit for 817 days to map topography, magnetic fields and composition.

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