Chapter 1: Introduction to NASA's Lucy Mission

NASA is embarking on a groundbreaking mission to investigate the intriguing Trojan asteroids located in Jupiter's orbit. This endeavor, named Lucy, is part of humanity's broader ambition to deepen our knowledge of the universe's origins and the evolution of life on Earth and potentially beyond. Previously, I discussed the Japanese space agency JAXA's Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) mission, which aims to gather rock samples from Mars’ moons and return them to Earth by 2029.

Now, NASA is turning its focus to another uncharted territory in our solar system. The Lucy mission is poised to explore a record number of asteroids—many of which have never been studied before—over the next 12 years. These Trojan asteroids are grouped into two distinct clumps, one ahead of and one behind Jupiter in its orbital path.

Section 1.1: Scientific Goals of the Lucy Mission

“The Lucy mission will revolutionize our knowledge of planetary origins and the formation of the solar system.”

~ NASA

The ambitious $981 million project will not travel directly to Jupiter. Instead, Lucy will make two flybys of Earth—one in 2022 and another in 2024—to gain the necessary gravitational assistance. The Trojan asteroids reside at two Lagrange points, where their distance from both Jupiter and the Sun is nearly equal, allowing them to maintain a stable orbit for billions of years.

Subsection 1.1.1: Understanding the Origins of Life

According to the Principal Investigator from the Southwest Research Institute, the Trojan asteroids are remnants from the solar system's formative years. By studying these ancient objects, researchers hope to gain insights into how organic materials and water were delivered to Earth, laying the groundwork for life as we know it.

Chapter 2: Lucy's Mission Details

Lucy, named after the famous Australopithecine fossil, is set to explore not only the Trojan asteroids but also the asteroid Donaldjohansen, situated in the main belt between Mars and Jupiter. Traveling at an impressive speed of 39,000 miles per hour (63,000 km/hr), the spacecraft aims to visit several asteroids including Eurybates, Polymele, and the binary pair Patroclus and Menoetius by 2027. Both clusters of Trojans are located approximately 500 million miles (800 million kilometers) from the Sun.

The first video details the launch of NASA's Lucy mission, providing insights into its objectives and the significance of exploring these ancient asteroids.

The second video discusses Lucy's journey to the Trojan asteroids, highlighting its mission goals and expected discoveries.

Lucy will investigate three types of asteroids—C, P, and D. Type C asteroids are typically found in the outer regions of the main asteroid belt, while P-type and D-type asteroids show similarities to icy Kuiper Belt objects beyond Neptune's orbit. All Trojan asteroids are expected to contain substantial amounts of dark carbon compounds, along with water and other volatile materials.

Equipped with its Long Range Reconnaissance Imager (L’LORRI), Lucy is capable of capturing high-resolution images even from distances of 620 miles (1,000 km). Additionally, the spacecraft will utilize its onboard instruments to map the surface geology of each asteroid, analyze their surface composition and color, determine their mass and density, and search for any hidden companions or rings. The mission is projected to conclude in 2033, with Lucy expected to remain operational and possibly explore additional asteroids thereafter. As of now, the mission has successfully launched.