NASA’s Lucy mission is set to fly past asteroid Donaldjohanson on April 20, a three-mile-wide object in the main belt. The spacecraft will use this flyby as a test before heading towards the Trojan asteroids near Jupiter, which may hold clues to how our solar system formed.
Scientists believe Donaldjohanson was born from a violent collision and could offer unexpected insights into asteroid evolution. The mission is designed to study these ancient objects up close, providing unprecedented precision in mapping relics of the planet formation process.
The spacecraft will fly past Donaldjohanson on its 4-billion-mile journey, offering a valuable case study in asteroid evolution. New research suggests the asteroid may have formed about 150 million years ago, likely resulting from a larger asteroid breaking apart.
Dr. Simone Marchi, Lucy deputy principal investigator, notes that understanding Donaldjohanson’s formation could help explain its peculiarities. The flyby will answer some questions and uncover unexpected connections with other asteroids, including Bennu and Ryugu.
The mission aims to expand our knowledge of the origin of humanity’s home world. NASA’s Lucy mission is part of the agency’s Discovery Program, a cost-effective planetary science program supporting focused missions like this one.
Note: The article has been simplified while retaining essential information, making it clear, concise, and suitable for a professional news blog article.
Source: https://scitechdaily.com/nasas-lucy-gears-up-for-a-thrilling-close-encounter-with-a-mysterious-space-relic