NASA's Psyche spacecraft returns unfamiliar views of a familiar world

NASA’s Psyche spacecraft made a close Mars flyby on May 15, 2026, capturing thousands of images and sensor readings from a rare side-lit view.

The pass was mainly a calibration exercise, helping verify the spacecraft’s cameras, magnetometer, and spectrometers before its main mission.

The spacecraft also recorded striking views of Mars features like Valles Marineris and the southern polar ice cap.

Psyche’s primary destination remains the asteroid Psyche, which it is expected to reach in about three years and may offer clues to metal-rich planetary cores.