Mars has become a popular pit stop for spacecraft lately, receiving several visits from Earth. On March 1, NASA’s Europa Clipper flew within 550 miles of Mars’ surface on its journey to Jupiter. Just days later, on March 12, the European Space Agency’s Hera spacecraft passed within about 3,100 miles of Mars and only 300 kilometers from its moon, Deimos. Hera is en route to study the binary asteroid Didymos and its moon Dimorphos. Looking ahead, NASA’s Psyche mission is slated to pass near Mars in May 2026 on its way to the metal-rich asteroid 16 Psyche.
So why are these spacecraft visiting Mars? While capturing images of the Red Planet might be part of the mission, the primary reason for these flybys is the extra speed Mars’ orbit can provide. The gravity assist, or slingshot effect, allows spacecraft to gain additional velocity by harnessing the gravitational pull of Mars. By carefully planning the approach and departure angles, a spacecraft can exit Mars’ orbit with increased speed, propelling it further into the solar system. Missions benefit significantly from this maneuver, often gaining several percent in speed, while ensuring proximity to Mars is maintained to avoid atmospheric drag.
Europa Clipper’s flyby was slightly different, as it actually decelerated by about 1.2 miles per second to set course for a second gravity assist from Earth in December 2026. This complex trajectory adjustment will ultimately propel the spacecraft to its final destination, Jupiter, by 2030.
While the main goal is not to observe Mars, visiting spacecraft often seize the opportunity to calibrate their instruments or conduct studies of the planet and its moons. During Clipper’s flyby, its camera system, Mastcam-Z, was poised to capture glimpses of the spacecraft against the Martian night sky. Unfortunately, as Clipper entered Mars’ shadow, it missed the chance to be seen from Perseverance’s location.
Related Stories
Meanwhile, back on Mars, the Perseverance rover continues its exploration. Recently, it approached “Sally’s Cove,” a steep rock outcrop on Jezero crater’s rim, examining dark-colored rocks and leaving behind spherules for future investigation.
The Ripple Effect
- The increase in Mars flybys underscores the planet’s strategic importance in space exploration and scientific research.
- Gravity assist maneuvers can significantly reduce travel time and fuel costs for interplanetary missions, enhancing our ability to explore the solar system.
- These missions could inspire advancements in technology and engineering that have applications beyond space exploration.
- Public fascination with Mars and space exploration may grow, potentially influencing educational initiatives and inspiring future generations of scientists and engineers.
- The data collected during these flybys could yield new insights into Martian geology and atmosphere, contributing to our understanding of the planet.
- Jupiter-bound missions like Europa Clipper could provide valuable information about the gas giant and its moons, with implications for understanding the potential for life elsewhere in the solar system.
- Increased interest and investment in space exploration may lead to the development of new industries and job opportunities on Earth.
- Collaborative international efforts, such as ESA’s Hera mission, highlight the benefits of global cooperation in space exploration.
- Successes and discoveries from these missions may influence governmental policies related to space exploration and funding for future projects.
- Scientific discoveries from these missions could impact our understanding of planetary formation and the dynamics of the solar system.
