Lucy Spacecraft from NASA Completes Flyby of First Asteroid in Its Journey to Jupiter’s Vicinity

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On Wednesday, NASA’s Lucy spacecraft successfully flew by the first among a series of 10 asteroids as it navigates its extended voyage towards Jupiter.

Lucy executed a close encounter with the diminutive asteroid named Dinkinesh, which is located approximately 300 million miles (480 million kilometers) away, positioned in the primary asteroid belt situated beyond Mars. NASA described the event as “a brief greeting,” with Lucy soaring past at a speed of 10,000 mph (16,000 kph).

The spacecraft approached Dinkinesh at a distance of about 270 miles (435 kilometers), utilizing the occasion to calibrate its onboard instruments as a preparatory measure for upcoming encounters with larger and more significant asteroids. Dinkinesh spans only half a mile (1 kilometer) in diameter, making it potentially the tiniest object in Lucy’s itinerary.

Lucy’s primary objective revolves around investigating the Trojans—clusters of yet-to-be-studied asteroids located close to Jupiter. These celestial objects are perceived as relics from the solar system’s inception. The spacecraft is slated to perform flybys of eight Trojans, each suspected to be between 10 to 100 times the size of Dinkinesh. Lucy’s mission is projected to culminate with the flyby of the last two asteroids in 2033.

Two years prior, NASA initiated Lucy on its ambitious mission valued at nearly $1 billion. The name “Lucy” pays homage to the 3.2 million-year-old skeletal remains of an early human ancestor discovered in Ethiopia during the 1970s. Lucy’s subsequent destination is an asteroid named in honor of Donald Johanson, one of the individuals credited with unearthing the Lucy fossil.

An issue with the spacecraft is that one of its twin solar panels remains unsecured. Despite attempts, flight engineers concluded efforts to fasten it. Nonetheless, assessments indicate it remains sufficiently stable to support the mission’s objectives.

This recent event concludes NASA’s designated “Asteroid Autumn.” In September, NASA successfully retrieved its inaugural samples from an asteroid. The following month witnessed the launch of a mission towards Psyche, a distinct asteroid abundant in metal.

Contrary to other asteroid missions, Lucy is not designed to make landings on any asteroids, nor will it harvest samples.

The process of transmitting all images and data from the recent flyby to Earth is anticipated to span a minimum of a week.

Hal Levison from the Southwest Research Institute, the principal scientist for the mission, mentioned that prior to this, Dinkinesh was merely “a vague blur through even the most advanced telescopes.”

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Lucy spacecraft

More about Lucy spacecraft

• NASA’s Official Lucy Mission Page
• Overview of the Trojans Near Jupiter
• Details on the Discovery of Lucy Fossil
• Southwest Research Institute’s Mission Involvement
• NASA’s Asteroid Retrieval Missions
• Details about Asteroid Psyche