Mars' Gravity Assist: A New Era in Space Exploration? NASA's Psyche spacecraft received a crucial boost from Mars on May 15, 2026, as it flew within 2,800 miles of the Red Planet.
The gravity assist maneuver allowed the spacecraft to harness the Martian gravitational pull, increasing its speed by over 1,500 mph and refining its trajectory towards the metallic asteroid 16 Psyche.
The Rise of Gravity Assists Gravity assists have become a staple in modern space exploration.