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NASA's Psyche probe nears Mars for gravity boost en route to metal-rich asteroid

NASA's Psyche probe nears Mars for gravity boost en route to metal-rich asteroid

By Steve Gorman LOS ANGELES, May 14 (Reuters) - NASA's Psyche probe was headed for a close encounter with Mars on Friday and a planned gravity boost to set the spacecraft on its final course to the solar system's largest known metallic asteroid, thought to be the remnant core of an ancient
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NASA's Psyche Spacecraft to Perform Mars Flyby En Route to Metal Asteroid

NASA's Psyche Spacecraft to Perform Mars Flyby En Route to Metal Asteroid

NASA's Psyche spacecraft is set to perform a close flyby of Mars this week, utilizing the planet's gravity to gain momentum for its journey to a rare metal asteroid. The spacecraft, named after its target, will pass within 2,800 miles of Mars, equivalent to the distance between the U.S. east and west coasts. This maneuver is part of its six-year mission, which began with its launch in 2023. The spacecraft is equipped with science instruments that will be active during the Mars pass, capturing thousands of images for both scientific and operational purposes. The mission aims to study the asteroid Psyche, believed to be the exposed nickel and iron core of a protoplanet, offering insights into the early solar system and planetary formation.
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NASA's Psyche Spacecraft Conducts Mars Flyby En Route to Metal Asteroid

NASA's Psyche Spacecraft Conducts Mars Flyby En Route to Metal Asteroid

NASA's Psyche spacecraft is performing a gravity assist flyby of Mars to increase its speed and adjust its trajectory towards the asteroid Psyche. This maneuver involves the spacecraft passing within 2,800 miles of Mars, capturing images and testing its scientific instruments. The mission, launched in 2023, aims to study the metal-rich asteroid, believed to be the exposed core of a protoplanet. The flyby provides an opportunity to refine the spacecraft's instruments and gather data on Mars, offering a unique view of the planet's crescent phase.
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NASA's Psyche Mission Prepares for Mars Flyby to Boost Asteroid Journey

NASA's Psyche Mission Prepares for Mars Flyby to Boost Asteroid Journey

NASA's Psyche spacecraft is set to perform a flyby of Mars on May 15, 2026, as part of its mission to reach the asteroid Psyche. The spacecraft, which launched in October 2023, will use Mars' gravity to increase its speed and adjust its trajectory, enabling it to reach its target asteroid in 2029. The flyby will bring Psyche within approximately 2,800 miles of Mars, traveling at a speed of 12,333 miles per hour. During this maneuver, the spacecraft will capture images of Mars and calibrate its observational instruments, ensuring they are ready for data collection upon reaching the asteroid belt.
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NASA's Psyche Mission Utilizes Mars Flyby for Asteroid Exploration

NASA's Psyche Mission Utilizes Mars Flyby for Asteroid Exploration

NASA's Psyche spacecraft is conducting a gravity assist flyby of Mars to gain speed and align its trajectory towards the metal-rich asteroid Psyche. The spacecraft, launched in 2023, is on a 2.2-billion-mile journey to reach the asteroid by 2029. During the Mars flyby, Psyche will pass approximately 2,800 miles above the planet, capturing images and testing its instruments. This maneuver allows the mission team to practice data collection and refine their equipment for the main mission. The flyby also offers a unique perspective of Mars, capturing images of the planet's crescent phase.
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NASA's Psyche Probe Utilizes Mars Gravity Boost for Asteroid Mission

NASA's Psyche Probe Utilizes Mars Gravity Boost for Asteroid Mission

NASA's Psyche probe is set to perform a gravity assist maneuver by passing close to Mars, which will help propel it towards its ultimate destination, the largest known metallic asteroid in the solar system. Launched in October 2023, the probe is on a 2.2 billion-mile journey to explore the asteroid, believed to be the remnant core of an ancient protoplanet. The Mars flyby, occurring at a distance of 2,800 miles from the planet, is designed to conserve the probe's xenon gas propellant by using the planet's gravitational pull to adjust its trajectory. This maneuver also provides an opportunity for the mission team to calibrate the probe's scientific instruments, including cameras that capture images in various wavelengths. The Psyche mission aims to reach the asteroid by August 2029, where it will orbit and study the celestial body for 26 months.
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NASA's Psyche spacecraft buzzing Mars on its way to a rare metal asteroid

NASA's Psyche spacecraft buzzing Mars on its way to a rare metal asteroid

A NASA spacecraft chasing a rare metal asteroid is swinging past Mars for a gravity boost
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European Space Agency Advances ExoMars 2028 Mission with Structural Model Testing

European Space Agency Advances ExoMars 2028 Mission with Structural Model Testing

The European Space Agency (ESA) has reached a significant milestone in the ExoMars 2028 mission, as the structural models of the mission's core elements have been integrated in Turin and transferred to Cannes for testing. This mission, a collaboration involving international partners including NASA, aims to search for signs of life beneath the Martian surface and to better understand the planet's environment. The structural models are crucial for validating the mechanical design before the completion of the flight hardware. They will undergo extensive testing to simulate the extreme conditions of the mission, from launch to landing on Mars. The mission is scheduled for launch in 2028, with an expected arrival on Mars in 2030.
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NASA Advances Space Exploration with New High-Performance Spaceflight Processor

NASA Advances Space Exploration with New High-Performance Spaceflight Processor

NASA is testing a new High Performance Spaceflight Computing processor designed to significantly enhance the computational capabilities of spacecraft. This next-generation processor, developed in collaboration with Microchip Technology Inc., is intended to withstand the harsh conditions of space while providing up to 100 times the computational power of current technology. The processor is being tested at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, where it undergoes rigorous evaluations including radiation, thermal, and shock tests. The project is managed by NASA's Space Technology Mission Directorate's Game Changing Development program, aiming to support autonomous spacecraft and accelerate scientific discoveries.
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NASA's Perseverance Rover Captures Selfie in Mars' Western Frontier

NASA's Perseverance Rover Captures Selfie in Mars' Western Frontier

NASA's Perseverance rover has taken a new selfie on Mars, showcasing its exploration of the 'Lac de Charmes' region beyond Jezero Crater. The image, composed of 61 individual photos, highlights the rover's position near a rocky outcrop named 'Arethusa,' where it conducted scientific analysis. This area is part of the rover's Northern Rim Campaign, representing some of the most scientifically intriguing terrain encountered. The selfie was captured on March 11, 2026, during the rover's deepest push westward, providing a view of both the Jezero Rim and the local Martian landscape.
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NASA's Next-Gen Space Processor Undergoes Testing to Enhance Space Missions

NASA's Next-Gen Space Processor Undergoes Testing to Enhance Space Missions

NASA, in collaboration with Microchip Technology Inc., is testing a new High Performance Spaceflight Computing processor designed to significantly boost the computational power of spacecraft. This next-generation processor, developed through a partnership with NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), aims to withstand the harsh conditions of space while providing up to 100 times the computational capacity of current spaceflight computers. The processor is being subjected to rigorous tests, including radiation, thermal, and shock evaluations, to ensure its durability in space environments. The technology is expected to enable autonomous spacecraft to use artificial intelligence for real-time responses to complex situations, thereby accelerating scientific discoveries and supporting future human missions to the Moon and Mars.
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ExoMars 2028 Mission Advances with Structural Models Ready for Testing

ExoMars 2028 Mission Advances with Structural Models Ready for Testing

The ExoMars 2028 mission, a collaborative effort led by the European Space Agency (ESA) with contributions from NASA, has reached a significant milestone. The structural models of the mission's core elements have been integrated in Turin and transferred to Cannes for the first phase of testing and verification. This mission aims to search for signs of life beneath the Martian surface and to better understand the planet's environment. The structural models are crucial for validating the mechanical design before the completion of the flight hardware. They will undergo extensive testing, including vibration, acoustic, shock, and separation tests, to ensure the spacecraft can withstand the extreme conditions of the mission.