A Five-Year Journey Toward the Trojan Asteroids
NASA's Lucy spacecraft is charting an ambitious path across the Solar System to explore the Trojan asteroids that share Jupiter's orbit. Entering the final stretch of its journey, the spacecraft is now less than a year away from encountering these ancient celestial bodies after five years of spaceflight.
En Route Observations and Scientific Measurements
Before reaching the primary Trojan swarms, Lucy conducted close-up observations of intermediate targets along its trajectory. Utilizing its suite of imaging systems and spectrometers, the mission has collected valuable observational data on asteroid surface properties, shapes, and orbital characteristics.
Unlocking the History of the Early Solar System
Because the Jupiter Trojans are considered pristine remnants from the planetary formation epoch, studying them directly will provide unprecedented clues about the origin of planetary bodies. Lucy's upcoming encounters are poised to refine current models regarding planetary migration and the chemical conditions of the early solar nebula.
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