NASA’s Lucy spacecraft is set for a historic flyby of asteroid Donaldjohanson on April 20, 2025. The mission aims to study asteroids in the Trojan swarms orbiting Jupiter and has revealed intriguing details about its next target.
Donaldjohanson, a member of the Erigone collisional asteroid family, may have originated from a larger parent asteroid that broke apart 150 million years ago. This data sets the stage for a deeper understanding of the asteroid’s composition, history, and peculiarities.
The Lucy mission not only explores distant asteroids but also serves as a rehearsal for its upcoming journey through the Trojan swarms. By studying Donaldjohanson in detail, scientists hope to unravel the mystery of its origins and understand the formation processes that shape asteroids.
One of the standout features of Donaldjohanson is its elongated shape, which has puzzled scientists. Data suggests it could be slow-rotating due to thermal torques caused by Sun’s heat, making it one of the more unusual objects in the asteroid belt.
The Lucy mission will provide fresh data that can clarify whether Donaldjohanson formed in the same way as other asteroids in the Erigone family or took a different path. The spacecraft’s upcoming flyby promises to deliver valuable insights into the processes that shape asteroids, including their fragmentation and evolution.
As part of its 12-year mission to study 11 asteroids, Lucy will gain valuable experience with its innovative navigation system, which will be used for more complex encounters with distant asteroids. By studying main belt asteroids like Donaldjohanson, the team will refine their navigation techniques before embarking on its primary mission to study the Trojan asteroids.
The Lucy mission seeks to understand the building blocks of our solar system and unravel key secrets about the early days of planetary formation. The Trojan asteroids are considered remnants from the solar system’s formation over 4.5 billion years ago, holding vital clues to deciphering the history of our solar system.
By studying asteroid Donaldjohanson, scientists hope to piece together the history of our solar system and gain insights into how the planets and other bodies came to be. The upcoming flyby will be an essential step in the broader mission to study asteroids and better understand the solar system’s origins.
Source: https://dailygalaxy.com/2025/03/nasas-lucy-flyby-asteroid-donaldjohanson