Gallery Type: Videos & Animations

Title card showing Psyche Inspired art depicting a person observing the Psyche asteroid through a telescope.

August 17, 2026

The Art of NASA’s Psyche Mission – Psyche Inspired

NASA’s Psyche spacecraft is on a journey to explore the metal-rich asteroid (16) Psyche. The Psyche asteroid remains mysterious. It will be the first metal world ever explored. The mission’s...
Graphic depicting the Psyche spacecraft near Mars.

July 17, 2026

Psyche’s Successful Imaging and Calibration Efforts During Mars Flyby

On May 15, 2026, NASA’s Psyche spacecraft passed about 2,800 miles (4,500 kilometers) from the Martian surface, successfully using the planet’s gravity to give it a critical boost on its...
Composite image of Mars during Psyche flyby.

July 17, 2026

Psyche Captures Stunning Time-lapse Video of Its Mars Encounter

This time-lapse uses images captured by NASA’s Psyche spacecraft between May 2 and May 31, 2026, during the spacecraft’s approach, close approach, and departure while the mission performed...
Graphic of planet Mars with Psyche spacecraft with text: Mission to Psyche: Preparing for Mars Gravity Assist"

May 8, 2026

Psyche Spacecraft Prepares for Mars Flyby

NASA’s Psyche spacecraft will pass about 2,800 miles (4,500 kilometers) from the Martian surface at 12,328 mph (19,840 kph) on May 15, 2026. The Red Planet will provide a crucial gravity...
Starry night sky with silhouetted trees and an observatory dome on the right, under a purple glow

September 19, 2025

From Taters to Terabits: NASA Wraps Up Deep Space Laser Test

NASA’s Deep Space Optical Communications (DSOC) technology demonstration has successfully concluded after two years, surpassing all technical goals and paving the way for future high-speed...
3D rendering of the Psyche asteroid with craters and metallic surface against a starry space background

January 30, 2025

Psyche Asteroid Rotation Animation

There are lots of ways in which Psyche (an asteroid) is different from Earth (a planet). Psyche’s size. If Earth were the size of a grapefruit, Psyche would be the size of a poppy seed! Psyche’s...
Rocket at Launch Complex 39A, NASA Kennedy Space Center, with text: "Friday, October 13, 2023

October 29, 2024

Mission to Psyche: One Year Into the Spacecraft’s Journey to a Metal-Rich Asteroid

One year after a successful launch on Oct. 13, 2023, team members on the Psyche mission to the metal-rich asteroid of the same name reflect on launch day, discuss mission operations and accomplishments...
NASA engineers monitor a video stream from deep space on a computer screen, showcasing a tech demo using lasers

December 19, 2023

NASA’s Tech Demo Streams First Video From Deep Space via Laser

The video, featuring a cat named Taters, was sent back from nearly 19 million miles away by NASA’s laser communications demonstration, marking a historic milestone. NASA’s Deep Space Optical...
Rocket on launch pad with text "PSYCHE LAUNCH OCTOBER 13, 2023" and NASA logo

October 13, 2023

Psyche Mission Launches From Kennedy Space Center (Highlights)

Highlights from the Oct. 13, 2023, launch of NASA’s Psyche spacecraft, which will travel 2.2 billion miles to a metal-rich asteroid in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. Psyche...
Rocket launching amidst clouds of smoke and fire, with a cloudy sky in the background

October 13, 2023

Psyche Launches to a Metal Asteroid (Official NASA Broadcast)

Watch the Psyche spacecraft launch from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket. NASA and SpaceX are now targeting launch at 10:19 a.m. EDT (1419 UTC) Friday,...
Rocket launching with bright flames and smoke against a clear blue sky, part of the Psyche Mission to a metal world

October 12, 2023

Psyche Mission Prepares for Launch to a Metal World (News Briefing)

The Psyche mission is expected to launch from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Oct. 12, 2023, at 7:16 a.m. PT / 10:16 a.m. ET. Join experts from NASA, SpaceX, and the U.S. Space...
Panel of six speakers at a news briefing for #MissionToPsyche, with a space-themed backdrop and audience

October 12, 2023

#MissionToPsyche: The Science Behind the Psyche Spacecraft (News Briefing)

The Psyche spacecraft will journey 2.2 billion miles to an asteroid that scientists hypothesize is made of substantial amounts of metal. It may contain leftover material from the core of a planetesimal,...