Psyche Spacecraft to Use Mars as Cosmic Slingshot in 2026

NASA's Psyche probe will pass within 2,864 miles of Mars on May 15, 2026, using the planet's gravity to pick up speed toward asteroid 16 Psyche. This gravity assist maneuver saves fuel for the spacecraft's arrival at the metal-rich asteroid in 2029. Psyche will photograph Mars during the encounter, including its south polar region.