Summary
NASA's Psyche spacecraft will fly close to Mars this week to gain speed from the planet's gravity while taking thousands of photos. The spacecraft is on a long journey to study a rare metal-rich asteroid named Psyche, expected to arrive in 2029.Key Facts
- Psyche spacecraft will pass Mars at about 2,800 miles (4,500 kilometers) away, traveling 12,333 mph (19,848 kph).
- The spacecraft will use Mars' gravity to speed up on its way to the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.
- Psyche will take pictures of Mars during the flyby to test its cameras and sensors.
- NASA's Mars rovers and orbiters from the U.S. and Europe will observe Mars at the same time for comparison.
- Psyche is traveling to a large asteroid thought to be mostly metal, possibly the core of a destroyed young planet.
- The metal asteroid is about 173 miles long and 144 miles wide (278 by 232 kilometers).
- Studying Psyche could reveal information about the early solar system and how Earth developed life.
- The spacecraft uses solar electric propulsion with xenon gas thrusters and will orbit the asteroid for two years after arriving.
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