NASA's Psyche spacecraft is flying to a metal asteroid. So, why did it just visit Mars?
Space.com ·
NASA's Psyche spacecraft flew by Mars on Friday (May 15), diving closer to the Red Planet than either of its tiny moons. But the precisely timed maneuver was not designed to study Mars, Instead, the …
NASA's Psyche spacecraft flew by Mars on Friday (May 15), diving closer to the Red Planet than either of its tiny moons. But the precisely timed maneuver was not designed to study Mars, Instead, the Psyche spacecraft zipped by Mars to use the planet as a celestial slingshot on its journey to its namesake, the metal-rich asteroid Psyche.The spacecraft passed within about 2,800 miles (4,500 kilometers) of Mars , which had appeared steadily larger and brighter in Psyche's view since early May. …
Original source: Space.com