Nasa's Psyche Spacecraft Reveals Stunning New Images of Mars
WHO:
USA Today - NASA researchers and Jim Bell, the Psyche imager instrument lead at Arizona State University in Tempe, are involved in the Psyche mission.
WHAT:
CNET - NASA researchers tested the Psyche spacecraft’s other instruments to ensure they were operational during the Mars flyby.
USA Today - The Psyche spacecraft captured an enhanced-color mosaic from four individual images acquired during its flyby, revealing craters, ridges, wind streaks, and volcanic plains materials over the southern highlands of Mars.
USA Today - NASA released a timelapse video showing the Psyche spacecraft's approach to and departure from Mars.
USA Today - NASA's Psyche spacecraft captured stunning images of Mars during its flyby on May 15, 2026.
USA Today - The Psyche spacecraft came no closer than about 2,800 miles from Mars' surface during the flyby.
USA Today - NASA released the images on July 17, 2026, after weeks of downlinking, analyzing, and processing the views.
USA Today - The Psyche spacecraft was traveling at approximately 12,333 mph when it reached Mars.
WHERE:
USA Today - The flyby occurred over Mars, which is located between Earth and the main asteroid belt.
WHEN:
USA Today - The Psyche spacecraft was launched in October 2023.
USA Today - The spacecraft's flyby of Mars took place on May 15, 2026.
USA Today - NASA released the images from the flyby on July 17, 2026.
USA Today - The Psyche spacecraft is expected to arrive at the metallic main-belt asteroid Psyche by the end of 2029.
WHY:
USA Today - The flyby was performed to harness Mars' gravity for a speed boost, propelling the Psyche spacecraft toward its destination.
HOW:
Space.com - The Psyche mission complemented existing Mars science with data collected from its unique perspective, despite not anticipating major discoveries.
USA Today - The Psyche spacecraft utilized a gravity assist maneuver during its flyby of Mars, similar to a slingshot, to adjust its trajectory and save propellant.
(UPDATED July 22, 2026 12:23 UTC)
NASA researchers have successfully tested the Psyche spacecraft’s instruments during its flyby of Mars, ensuring they are operational. The spacecraft captured an enhanced-color mosaic from four images, showcasing the Martian landscape with craters, ridges, wind streaks, and volcanic plains in the southern highlands, and a timelapse video of its approach and departure has also been released. This mission adds valuable data to existing Mars science, providing a unique perspective, even though major discoveries were not anticipated.
--
(UPDATED July 22, 2026 07:50 UTC)
NASA's Psyche spacecraft recently captured stunning images of Mars during its flyby on May 15, 2026, coming within about 2,800 miles of the planet's surface while traveling at approximately 12,333 miles per hour. The images were released on July 17, 2026, after weeks of downlinking, analyzing, and processing by researchers, including Jim Bell, the Psyche imager instrument lead at Arizona State University. This flyby was crucial for harnessing Mars' gravity to give the Psyche spacecraft a speed boost as it heads toward its destination, the metallic main-belt asteroid Psyche, expected to be reached by the end of 2029.