# NASA's Psyche spacecraft, on its way to a metal-rich asteroid, used Mars as a gravitational slingshot in May 2026, skimming just 2,800 miles above the planet to gain the speed it needed

> **Newsylist Open Intelligence Dossier** · First detected: 2026-07-13 05:29 UTC · Category: Science · Sources: 5 · Current Velocity: 2.8

## Executive Summary
NASA's Psyche spacecraft has completed a high-speed Mars flyby to accelerate toward a metal-rich asteroid potentially worth quadrillions of dollars.

## Intelligence Brief
In May 2026, NASA's Psyche spacecraft performed a gravitational slingshot maneuver, skimming within 2,800 to 2,864 miles of Mars. This maneuver allowed the craft to gain 1,000 mph of speed without utilizing onboard propellant.


The spacecraft is now traveling toward a metal-rich asteroid that may be the exposed core of an early planet. Coverage from 19FortyFive and Space Daily emphasizes the technical precision of the Mars flyby.


Simultaneously, outlets including Mashable India, Inshorts, and Futura are focusing on the asteroid's immense metallic value, with estimates mentioned as $10 quintillion or $100,000 quadrillion. Future developments involve the spacecraft's continued journey toward the asteroid to probe its composition and determine the reality behind the projected value of its metals.

## Verified Facts & Key Claims
### How did the Psyche spacecraft gain speed without fuel?
The spacecraft used Mars as a gravitational slingshot, passing within 2,864 miles of the planet to gain 1,000 mph.

### What is the destination of the Psyche mission?
The craft is headed for a metal-rich asteroid that may be an early planet's exposed core.

### What is the estimated value of the asteroid's metals?
Reports vary, with figures cited as $10 quintillion or $100,000 quadrillion.

## Key People, Organizations & Locations
Psyche, NASA's Psyche, Psyche Tracker On A Mission To Probe, Quadrillion Worth Metal-Rich Asteroid, Psyche Spacecraft Passed Within, Miles of Mars Gained, MPH Without Using Onboard Propellant and Is Now Headed, Metal World That May Be

## Multi-Source Evidence Table
| Source Outlet | Headline | Published (UTC) | Verification URL |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mashable India | NASA’s Psyche Tracker: On A Mission To Probe $100,000 Quadrillion Worth Metal-Rich Asteroid | 2026-07-12 04:30 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMixAFBVV95cUxPM0M5THZGaEdCOGNxZ05GT053c3ZrdWRGMklKbUhYalNUVTdWbWVudElWTGp6bXd0MkN4cWl3LS1KVmxVYXdJM3A2REsxblpOWUQtQ1htcTEwUXJVU2NqbTRFY1JyLXZmVC1aMlhpU0VxZ2JzSHBEbU14ZVVNRGVrbWU1S1BTSjljM0Z0ZDBiV0l4SkdWN2F3cmVxMHRDUXU3dDhDVGUxLUJadzkyeFl0NXpwT05vV0dRbGFUMW1uTWRrQlBK0gHEAUFVX3lxTE8zQzlMdkZoR0I4Y3FnTkZPTndzdmt1ZEYySUptSFhqU1RVN1ZtZW50SVZManptd3QyQ3hxaXctLUpWbFVhd0kzcDZESzFuWk5ZRC1DWG1xMTBRclVTY2ptNEVjUnItdmZULVoyWGlTRXFnYnNIcERtTXhlVU1EZWttZTVLUFNKOWMzRnRkMGJ) |
| Inshorts | The truth behind the $10 quintillion asteroid 16 Psyche - Tap to know more | 2026-07-12 04:30 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMioAFBVV95cUxPNWJTU3BVaFhQdjFlRjJuN2FTUktBWDRiQXMteV9ucnJEcnhPbnJqb0YxRFBlM252d183cGl2UzNFRGxnN04tWURHTWd4ajJfQno0bGFoOWRzallOTjg2RllFUF9nWGFDX0VKdDV5ZS1NUURNWFQ1dEZkRXo0V3V1RVRLOGhWVjZvWGxGUGtPeEZSekNDbE9MZ1lWZU82Wl9W0gGmAUFVX3lxTE5YY3pvdXo1a3RhcWN5ZDVDVENrT0JLT2gxcHRxVEMwbFE1c2lVenc4c2l2THBQQzFBLW5SaEhKd0VITTN4NVpXZTdvVlBqSHJLZUdXb3JxdmtaOXhFNmNtUmpnM0NRQ040UGFVcGtBakNnb3NFQ0trQWJUN1JoUmNreEpfSS1MS2hpcENrNmVVaDhZd3RDUktmN3VMOVRDZ081eDhMZ3c?oc=5) |
| 19FortyFive | NASA’s Psyche Spacecraft Passed Within 2,864 Miles of Mars, Gained 1,000 MPH Without Using Onboard Propellant, and Is Now Headed for a Metal World That May Be an Early Planet’s Exposed Core | 2026-07-12 04:30 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiuwJBVV95cUxNRUt5ZEFsYlBlVlhuY3k5a1c5a05EdEc0cFFhUThXeGMzeGNXVVlHTGRaWHUtc05Wa3B1NUFqaHlRLXJqM2tIZ0ZDNTJ6STloN2NTb2REMnk0c3VKRW5MemQxdjlGNHZ4MTlvRG5CTXowOF83OEFGRkxsY0V0bl8tQUdzaEtQZDRhWnNqR3ktbVJubnJLbjZoc0g0U0g2VU5oWjlBRTFWZDJua2lSSGNCOE56RWhaVW91OHZtQkYxVC1vMlJ0aFB2Wlg1VEwyQnRINWNSTUk0RlVZYk00R0RJTjhXeXMzNkZnNWs1MmFzWHA1ejF3RnRLSEJDWm5RTy1kNDdoc0NOMGJzWGJjOTZIWS1xYWZMQUE2dEFVODd2SE9VR0JrNTNjSloyb0ZqU3pDVkgyU1BmaXFSa3c?oc=5) |
| Futura, le média qui explore le monde | Asteroid metals worth billions: The reality behind the next space rush | 2026-07-12 04:30 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMivAFBVV95cUxOYmhER3NtVmRESHZXRzUxNFZha3QxeHEyQlZ1WHdBeFdUdlNrd1pVZmhqZnBzX3pnXzVMVi02TDRQUWl1ME1pSFNDRktmeTZHYUNaZWJyc0JsX01CUlJaZFpUVTlJZkQyOHVlQjg1em0wU0dPX1BkUnFtMnRteXVIaDh3X3lkVDZseE1kdnFQNE54ZjRGR2NQb0xMaFdYenEyejhHX0ktc2owWHltMUZVZ3dKTi0tSzIwMWZreA?oc=5) |
| Space Daily | NASA's Psyche spacecraft, on its way to a metal-rich asteroid, used Mars as a gravitational slingshot in May 2026, skimming just 2,800 miles above the planet to gain the speed it needed | 2026-07-12 04:30 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMitgJBVV95cUxNVWJha0NGRE1pS3piclk2V1NlY0hXdUoxMVFyazNjc0tUNkREanVMRW1tR2Y1WW9NOEZxY0hVeEMzU25HTmJBQnBRYWxRZHBWOHRyOW1FeHRnczhjYl9sVVo4QkVkNEpsRHRfVmRaT05aVjdDc2I4VU52N29Cd2ZCTWFabjNXaFlITFZuZjROTU9YV3FOOFV3T29xdXo2QUFRc19XV3BBNm1YVUhGcjQ0b1lObWpKdlN1Z0FDeHAtcVJuQi12SkpLQWxmdkRvYVJENEJxcGVjZWplOVM2cnJNcmw3bWJKR0lXSGtPN0JEVUxxbk9WTWtzcW5sMnYydWMtWlN2bDZvSS1EN3pnVUhrWjFfazlHV044dTRzaGU0V21jR19uZ3B0UXg3dGYxbVBJUG1xQXN3?oc=5) |

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