NASA’s Lucy spacecraft flew by asteroid Donaldjohanson on Easter Sunday, testing its science instruments. The flyby occurred at a distance of about 620 miles (1,000 kilometers) and marked the second close encounter for the probe in its 12-year journey to Jupiter.
Launched in 2021, Lucy is equipped with various tools, including L’Ralph, a color camera, and L’LLORI, a high-resolution imager. The mission aims to learn about the origins of the solar system by studying eight Trojan asteroids, searching for elements that could spark life.
The spacecraft’s name was inspired by the 3-million-year-old fossil australopithecine skeleton discovered in Ethiopia in 1974, which contributed to human evolution research. Paleoanthropologist Donald Johanson, the founder of Arizona State University’s Institute of Human Origins, played a crucial role in naming the mission.
During its upcoming journey, Lucy will perform flybys of eight Trojan asteroids, including asteroid Donaldjohanson. The spacecraft is designed to test its science instruments and gather data on the composition of these asteroids.
Source: https://www.space.com/the-universe/asteroids/nasas-lucy-probe-will-fly-by-the-asteroid-donaldjohanson-on-easter-sunday