NASA’s Psyche spacecraft is progressing toward its target in the asteroid belt after a gravity assist from Mars in May 2023, with the agency sharing images from its encounter. The spacecraft began its approach to Mars on May 2 and made its closest approach on May 15. During this period, Psyche captured thousands of images with its multispectral imager, which have now been compiled into a timelapse video released by NASA.
The video showcases a series of views, including a crescent Mars, detailed surface features, and the icy south pole observed as Psyche departed. Jim Bell, the Psyche imager instrument lead at Arizona State University, stated, “The imager performed brilliantly, delivering some rarely seen views of the red planet.”
The gravity assist maneuver not only provided a speed boost but also refined Psyche’s trajectory toward the eponymous asteroid, conserving propellant for the extended voyage. Psyche is expected to reach the asteroid in 2029. Bell noted that the imaging helped test the calibration and sensitivity of the instrument to scattered light, allowing the identification of Mars’ moons, Phobos and Deimos, from a significant distance, which was part of preparations for future satellite searches at the asteroid.
