Psyche’s Mars Flyby: A Dress Rehearsal | Science News

NASA’s Psyche spacecraft just pulled off a stunning Mars flyby, using the Red Planet’s gravity to slingshot itself toward its ultimate target: a mysterious metal asteroid thought to be the core of a shattered planet. The mission captured breathtaking time-lapse footage of Mars swelling in size, gliding over its surface, and even spotting its tiny moons, Phobos and Deimos — all while testing its cameras for the big asteroid arrival in 2029. This clever maneuver wasn’t just about trajectory — it was a full dress rehearsal for the science instruments, proving they’re ready for the real mission ahead. With three more years of space travel still ahead, Psyche is a masterclass in deep-space efficiency and ambition. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/84a806dc59ff0407