The spacecraft is using the Red Planet's gravity to increase speed and tilt its trajectory on the journey to the metal-rich asteroid Psyche.
This image of Mars was captured by NASA's Psyche mission on May 3, 2026, about 3 million miles from the planet as the spacecraft approaches for a gravity assist on May 15.
Sunlight is reflected and scattered by dust in the Martian atmosphere, creating an extended crescent around the planet.
