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Lucy's current trajectory, skirting the inner edge of the main asteroid belt, will soon transition to a path leading beyond Jupiter's orbit. This shift is set to be achieved through a two-step process: executing a series of deep space maneuvers, followed by an Earth gravity assist.
The spacecraft's team is preparing for the first of these maneuvers in late January. On January 31, Lucy will engage its main engines for the first time in space. This initial burn, though brief, serves as a critical test for the spacecraft's performance. Following this, a more substantial maneuver is planned for February 3. Together, these maneuvers aim to alter Lucy's velocity by approximately 2,000 mph (around 900 meters per second), consuming about half of the spacecraft's onboard fuel.
To put this into perspective, previous adjustments to Lucy's velocity were relatively minor, under 10 mph (a few meters per second), achieved using the spacecraft's smaller thrusters. The upcoming maneuvers, therefore, represent a significant escalation in terms of scale and complexity.
The culmination of these maneuvers will set the stage for Lucy's second major milestone in 2024: the second Earth gravity assist scheduled for December. During this close flyby, within just 230 miles (370 kilometers) of Earth, Lucy will be catapulted through the main asteroid belt. This trajectory will lead to an encounter with asteroid Donaldjohanson in April 2025 and eventually into the leading Jupiter Trojan swarm, known as the L4 or "Greek" cluster.
Lucy's first intimate encounter with a Trojan asteroid is slated for August 2027, when it approaches Eurybates and its satellite Queta. These observations are expected to yield unprecedented insights into the Trojans, believed to be relics of the early solar system.
Related Links
Lucy at SWRI
Asteroid and Comet Mission News, Science and Technology
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