NASA released a composite image showing Mars as the Psyche spacecraft approached the planet for a gravity assist in May 2026.
Key facts
- •The images were captured by the Psyche spacecraft's multispectral imager instrument.
- •The gravity assist maneuver occurred between May 2 and May 15, 2026.
- •Mars appeared as a thin crescent due to the high phase angle of the spacecraft's approach.
- •The mission team created a time-lapse video using images from the approach, close encounter, and departure.
NASA’s Psyche mission captured a series of images of Mars as the spacecraft approached the planet for a gravity assist between May 2 and May 15, 2026. The images, taken by the spacecraft’s multispectral imager, show the planet appearing as a growing crescent as the distance between the spacecraft and Mars decreased.
Capturing the Mars Encounter
As the spacecraft approached Mars from a high phase angle, the planet appeared as a thin crescent illuminated by sunlight. Following the initial approach, the planet eventually overfilled the spacecraft's field of view, allowing the team to capture high-resolution images of the Martian surface. The mission team has since compiled these views from the approach, close encounter, and departure into a time-lapse of the event.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by NASA Breaking News.
