NASA has just released a jaw-dropping video of a spacecraft's view as it zoomed past Mars. You've got to see this - BBC Sky at Night Magazine
NASA's Psyche spacecraft captured detailed imagery of Mars during a gravity-assist flyby in May 2026. The mission, which is headed toward the asteroid Psyche, used the flyby to test its multispectral imaging instruments.
Why it matters
Successful testing of deep-space imaging instruments during gravity-assist maneuvers is critical for the long-term success of interplanetary exploration missions.
NASA has released a mesmerising video showing images captured by a spacecraft as it flew past Mars.
The Psyche spacecraft is on its way to visit and study asteroid Psyche, which is located in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.
It's expected to reach the asteroid in July 2029, but in May 2026, it made a close pass of Mars.
The resulting images and video show what it would be like to skim over the Martian surface, from a distance of 4,609 km (2,864 miles).
As Psyche approached Mars, the Red Planet initially appeared as a crescent, due to the spacecraft's position and the Mars's angle, relative to the Sun.
But once the spacecraft got closer, it was able to capture detailed views of the Martian surface, including craters, the planet's south polar ice cap (yes, Mars has ice caps!) and the enormous, double-ringed Huygens crater.
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