Composite spans twelve days of flight
Between May 2 and May 15, 2026, NASA's Psyche spacecraft captured a series of views of the planet Mars. The individual frames were combined into a single composite that displays the planet as a crescent that grows larger as the vehicle moved closer to the Red Planet.
The flyby served as a gravity assist, using the pull of Martian gravity to help adjust the probe's trajectory and conserve propellant for the journey ahead. The crescent appearance results from the camera's vantage point, with only the sunlit edge of Mars visible from the spacecraft's position.
Details of the approach sequence
- Imaging period: May 2 to May 15, 2026
- Subject: Planet Mars viewed from the Psyche probe
- Purpose: Gravitational maneuver in support of the mission
- Result: Composite showing the widening Martian crescent
The released view illustrates the geometric progress of the approach and provides a clear visual record of the planet's phase during that interval. No further details on the Psyche mission's subsequent operations were provided alongside the composite image.