NASA's Psyche Spacecraft Captures Mars Flyby; Starlink Maneuvers Detected

NASA's Psyche spacecraft, part of a mission to explore the metallic asteroid 16 Psyche, has successfully captured a time-lapse video of its recent Mars flyby. This manoeuvre, which occurred on 21 July 2026, was designed to use Mars' gravity to adjust the spacecraft's trajectory toward its target. The footage provides a unique perspective of the Red Planet, showcasing the spacecraft's capabilities in interplanetary navigation. The Psyche mission is a key part of NASA's ongoing efforts to understand the building blocks of planet formation.

Starlink Satellites Undergo Orbital Adjustments

Several Starlink satellites have been observed performing orbital manoeuvres, as indicated by significant changes in their argument of perigee. Notably, STARLINK-2151 and STARLINK-2155 exhibited changes of approximately 12.95° and 12.93°, respectively. These adjustments are part of routine operations to maintain the satellites' positions within their designated orbital slots. The Starlink Tracker on Orbital Radar provides real-time updates on these and other satellites in the constellation.

What to Watch

While there are no launches scheduled for today, anticipation builds for the upcoming launch of the Roman Space Telescope, set to take place next month. NASA will host a media briefing soon to provide further details on this mission, which aims to explore dark energy, exoplanets, and infrared astrophysics. Keep an eye on the Launch Schedule for updates on this and other upcoming missions.