NASAの探査機「サイキ」が火星の重力を利用し、目標とする小惑星に向けて加速を行った。この機動は5月15日、探査機が火星に接近した際に行われた。
探査機は火星の表面から2,864マイル（約4,609キロメートル）まで接近した。この重力アシストにより、燃料を消費することなく速度が時速約1,000マイル（時速約1,600キロメートル）向上し、小惑星帯へ向かう軌道が調整された。NASAのディープスペースネットワーク（DSN）が受信した無線信号により、技術者たちはこの成果を確認した。
AIによるレポート AIによって生成された画像
NASA's Artemis II mission lifted off successfully on April 1, 2026, from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, sending astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen aboard the Orion spacecraft for the first crewed Moon flyby since Apollo 17. Powered by the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, the 10-day test flight will validate critical systems for future lunar landings and Mars missions, looping around the Moon's far side.
NASA's Psyche spacecraft flew past Mars on May 15, using the planet's gravity to gain speed and adjust its course. The maneuver brought it closer to Mars than either of the planet's moons.
AIによるレポート
NASA's Psyche spacecraft is scheduled to pass within 2,800 miles of Mars on May 15 to gain a gravitational boost toward its target asteroid. The maneuver will increase the probe's speed while allowing tests of its scientific instruments.
Scientists from the University of Basel, ETH Zurich, and the European Space Agency have tested a quadrupedal robot equipped with a robotic arm to explore planetary surfaces more efficiently. The robot navigated rocky terrain autonomously, identifying targets and collecting data faster than traditional human-guided methods. The findings, published this week, suggest it could accelerate resource prospecting and searches for signs of life on the moon and Mars.
AIによるレポート
NASA's Artemis II mission has reached day six, with its four-person crew nearing the far side of the moon. The spacecraft remains on track for a lunar flyby while the astronauts share images and videos of Earth. They are also testing systems for future missions and addressing a toilet issue.
NASA's Artemis II crew, aboard the Orion spacecraft named Integrity, has successfully departed Earth's orbit and is heading toward the Moon after a key engine burn. The astronauts reported no major issues, shared stunning photos of Earth, and spoke with family and media. The mission remains on track for a closest approach to the Moon on Monday and splashdown on April 10.
AIによるレポート
NASA's Perseverance rover sent back a new selfie from Mars this week after venturing west of Jezero Crater.