NASA's Psyche Spacecraft Utilizes Mars Flyby for Gravity Assist

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NASA's Psyche spacecraft is performing a close flyby of Mars, passing within 2,800 miles of the planet to gain a gravity assist on its journey to a rare metal asteroid. The spacecraft, launched in 2023, will use this maneuver to fine-tune its instruments and capture images as it heads towards its target, expected to be reached in 2029.

• The Psyche spacecraft is traveling at 12,333 mph during its flyby of Mars.
• NASA's Mars rovers and orbiters will conduct simultaneous surface and atmospheric observations for comparison during the flyby.
• The mission aims to study the asteroid Psyche, believed to be the exposed core of a protoplanet, to understand the early solar system.
• Psyche is expected to enter orbit around the asteroid in 2029 for two years of study.
• The spacecraft's cameras are capturing images of Mars, serving as practice for instrument calibration and providing visual data.