Here's everything to know about the Psyche spacecraft's rendezvous with Mars.A NASA spacecraft on a long journey to a strange metallic asteroid will have a close encounter with Mars.Coming within just a few thousand miles of the red planet's surface, the Psyche vehicle will benefit from a gravity boost that will send it whizzing toward the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. The maneuver, expected for today (May 15) marks a crucial moment in the Psyche's six-year voyage through space to a captivating asteroid of the same name.Mars' gravitational forces will not only help boost the spacecraft's speed, but will give it a much needed rest as it enters its final leg.Here's everything to know about the Psyche spacecraft's rendezvous with Earth's closest planetary neighbor, including how you can take a virtual look at a preview of what will happen.What is NASA's Psyche mission?NASA's Psyche spacecraft is on a mission to a distant metal-rich asteroid of the same name.Since launching in October 2023, the shuttle has been traveling on a six-year, 2.2 billion-mile journey to the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. Its final destination is a metallic asteroid of the same name that scientists hope to study in order to glean valuable insights about Earth's own core.Psyche spacecraft to swing by and get pictures of MarsJust more than two and-a-half years into its travels, the Psyche spacecraft is due Friday, May 15 to come close to Mars.The vehicle, which already capture a glimpse of Mars on its approach, will pass 2,800 mile above the Martian surface. During the flyby, Psyche plans to collect images and other data about the red planet that can be beamed back to Earth for analysis, according to NASA.Mars' gravity to provide boost to asteroid beltPerhaps more importantly, though, Mars' gravity will provide a valuable boost to the Psyche spacecraft as it continues on its lengthy journey.The gravity assist maneuver will act not unlike a slingshot, propelling the spacecraft on a trajectory to arrive at the metallic main-belt asteroid Psyche in 2029, NASA explained.The Psyche spacecraft, which will be whizzing at an expected 12,333 mph when it reaches Mars, has been gradually gaining speed since its launch.But the mission team at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California plans to use the Mars flyby to harness some of the planet's gravitational forces for even more of a boost. The maneuver should give the vehicle's propulsion system a bit of a break and even save some propellant while adjusting its trajectory if needed, NASA said.The team will monitor the flyby by tracking Psyche's radio signals beamed to NASA's giant array radio network antennas on Earth known as the Deep Space Network. Other Mars orbiters and rovers may also lend a hand by providing imaging observations and navigation data, according to NASA.You can preview event with NASA interactive mapNASA's online 3D interactive map, known as "Eyes on the Solar System," allows users to preview how the event will unfold in real-time.Eric Lagatta is the Space Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at elagatta@usatodayco.com