Psyche Spacecraft Executes Mars Gravity Assist on May 15, Conserving Fuel for Asteroid Orbit

NASA's Psyche probe will pass within 2,864 miles of Mars on May 15, 2026, using the planet's gravity to accelerate toward asteroid 16 Psyche without expending xenon fuel. The maneuver adjusts both speed and trajectory, preserving propellant reserves for orbital insertion around the metal-rich asteroid in 2029. The spacecraft will photograph Mars, including its south polar cap, during the close approach.