NASA's Psyche spacecraft is flying to a metal asteroid. So, why did it just visit Mars?

NASA's Psyche flyby of Mars highlights how gravity assists help spacecraft gain speed, conserve fuel and travel across the solar system.

The slingshot around Mars was a make-or-break moment for the Psyche asteroid mission.

NASA's Psyche spacecraft flew by Mars on Friday (May 15), diving closer to the Red Planet than either of its tiny moons.