NASA Psyche mission captures growing Mars crescent during 2026 gravity assist

NASA’s Psyche spacecraft captured a series of composite images that chronicle the gradual expansion of Mars’ crescent as the probe approached the planet for a gravity‑assist maneuver. The images, taken between May 2 and May 15, 2026, show the planet’s illuminated limb growing steadily against the backdrop of deep space, providing a visual record of the spacecraft’s trajectory toward the Martian body.

The gravity‑assist, scheduled for the middle of May, is a key component of Psyche’s extended mission plan. By swinging past Mars, the probe will gain additional velocity, allowing it to reach its primary target—a metallic asteroid in the outer asteroid belt—while conserving onboard fuel. The composite sequence offers scientists a precise reference for the spacecraft’s path and the timing of the maneuver, as well as a public showcase of the mission’s interplanetary navigation.

With the gravity assist completed, Psyche will continue its journey toward the asteroid belt, where it will conduct detailed studies of the planet‑sized metallic body. The images serve both as a scientific dataset and a testament to the mission’s precision navigation, underscoring NASA’s continued efforts to explore the diverse objects that populate our solar system.