AI Insight
NASA's Lucy spacecraft launched on October 16, 2021, to explore the Jupiter Trojan asteroids, a population of objects that have never been closely studied before. During its first five years of operation, the Southwest Research Institute-led mission has already produced several scientific findings while traveling toward its primary targets. The spacecraft is now less than a year away from conducting the first-ever close-up observations of a Trojan asteroid.
Why it matters
The Jupiter Trojan asteroids are considered pristine remnants from the early solar system, and studying them provides crucial insights into planetary formation and the conditions that existed during the solar system's formation. This mission represents humanity's first opportunity to examine these ancient objects up close, potentially revealing information about the building blocks that formed the outer planets.
Understand the Science
On Oct. 16, 2021, NASA’s Lucy spacecraft began its journey to the never-before-explored Jupiter Trojan asteroids with an early morning launch. Now less than a year away from the first-ever close-up of a Trojan, the Southwest Research Institute–led mission has already made several findings during its first five years.