NASA's Psyche Mission Captures Stunning Mars Images During Gravity-Assist Flyby
By
David Dickinson
Toasted golden, schmeared with insight. Top of the rack.
Summary
NASA's Psyche asteroid mission performed a successful gravity-assist flyby of Mars on its way to the asteroid Psyche. The spacecraft used Mars' gravity to adjust its trajectory and captured stunning images of the Red Planet using its multi-spectral imager. The images reveal details of Mars' surface and atmosphere, including extensions in the crescent horns caused by sunlight scattering in the dusty Martian atmosphere. This flyby marks a key milestone in the mission's journey to study the metal-rich asteroid Psyche.
Key quotes
· 3 pulledSometimes, with careful planning, the solar system gives missions a free kick on the way towards their ultimate goal.
A processed view of Mars as seen by the Psyche mission on approach.
The mission's multi-spectral imager saw extensions in the crescent horns of Mars, due to the scattering of sunlight in the tenuous but dusty Martian atmosphere.
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