The NASA spacecraft “Lucy” has embarked on an unprecedented exploratory mission aimed at deciphering the hidden history of our solar system. This challenging mission seeks not only to reach the Trojan asteroids around Jupiter but also to gain a better understanding of the ordinary meteorites encountered along the way.
The Journey Begins: A Quiet Start with Grand Ambitions
“Lucy” launched in the fall of 2021 amidst the global events dominated by the COVID-19 pandemic, making its departure relatively quiet. The spacecraft is on a six-year journey to reach the Trojan asteroids orbiting Jupiter in massive clouds, one preceding and the other following the planet.
These asteroids are considered “fossils” from the early, violent days of the solar system, having been pushed into their current locations by strong gravitational interactions among the giant planets. These ancient meteorites may have played a role in delivering water and organic compounds to Earth, potentially sparking the emergence of life.
Exploring Asteroids Along the Way
During its journey, “Lucy” took the opportunity to test its instruments on asteroids located in the main belt between Mars and Jupiter. In 2023, it flew close to the asteroid “Dinkinesh,” and in 2025, it approached the asteroid “Donaldjohanson.”
The asteroid “Donaldjohanson” is known for its unique peanut-like shape and slow rotation. It is part of the “Eurybates” family, formed from the breakup of a larger body about 150 million years ago. These studies have helped scientists improve their understanding of asteroid composition and history.
Astonishing Results from a Brief Encounter
Although the findings were not dramatically surprising, they highlighted the level of detail “Lucy” can provide even from brief encounters. Measurements showed that the asteroid resembles other carbonaceous asteroids in the “Eurybates” family and revealed water-altered minerals formed before the larger body’s breakup.
Images from “Lucy” showed that “Donaldjohanson’s” surface is pockmarked with numerous craters, allowing scientists to estimate its age at around 155 million years. The images also showed that the “neck” between the asteroid’s lobes is almost devoid of small craters, suggesting landslides occurred as the asteroid’s rotation slowed.
Lucy’s Next Adventure: Toward the Trojan Asteroids
“Lucy” is expected to reach the Trojan asteroid “Eurybates” and its moon “Queta” on August 12, 2027. The spacecraft will conduct further flybys of other asteroids before returning to Earth in 2031 to gain additional speed for a new encounter with another binary asteroid in 2033.
Conclusion
The “Lucy” mission is one of the most ambitious space missions in the history of space exploration, providing invaluable data about the solar system’s history and asteroid composition. Through its journey to the Trojan asteroids, “Lucy” significantly contributes to our understanding of the conditions that led to the creation of life on Earth and how asteroids have evolved over time.