Overview
- Psyche passed about 2,864 miles above Mars on May 15, 2026, using the planet’s gravity to alter its path without burning onboard propellant.
- Flight-team analysis of Deep Space Network Doppler and radio data confirmed Mars gave Psyche roughly a 1,000 mile-per-hour speed boost and about a 1-degree change in orbital plane.
- Engineers powered the multispectral imagers, magnetometers, and gamma-ray and neutron spectrometer during the encounter and captured thousands of unique images for calibration.
- Early magnetometer readings may show Psyche crossed Mars’ bow shock and teams are now processing and cross-checking the datasets with other Mars missions to refine instrument performance.
- With the flyby complete the spacecraft has resumed solar-electric ion thrusting and remains on course to insert into orbit around asteroid 16 Psyche in summer 2029 to map its metal-rich surface.