Whats the most interesting thing about the Lucy mission to you?
Trojan asteroids have experienced first-hand the history of the external planetary system. Hence, they present us with an unique chance to much better understand world development and planetary system evolution. These primitive bodies hold essential hints to understanding the history of the solar system.
What are the science instruments on the spacecraft and what information do we expect?
Lucy hosts three scientific instruments that will collect data to assist scientists unlock the mysteries of world and planetary system development.
Lucy Thermal Emissions Spectrometer (LTES), a version of which is presently flying on the OSIRIS-REx mission, will study the thermal environment of the Trojan surface areas, resulting in a much better understanding of the physical properties of the regolith such as grain sizes and subsurface layering.
LRalph, comparable to instruments currently flying on the New Horizons and OSIRIS-REX objectives, is the mix of a Multi-spectral Visible Camera (MVIC) and an infrared imaging spectrometer use to search for ice and organics and will be determining the mineral makeup of the asteroids.
Long Range Reconnaissance Imager (LLORRI), will provide detailed pictures of the surface area of the Trojans. LLORRI is a clone of the New Horizons instrument which was used to catch the renowned pictures of the New Horizons Pluto flyby and need to produce pictures of the Trojans that will assist scientists in comprehending the geological features and crater counts– helping with figuring out the age of the Trojans.
What is your favorite feature of your task and working this objective?
As an objective manager on the Lucy objective, Im responsible for making certain the job group has the resources they need to be successful. Having the benefit of belonging of a team that wishes to produce clinical discoveries that change or enhance our understanding of the development of our solar system motivates me.
I am grateful to have actually dealt with such an enthusiastic mission with a group of skilled people from across this country. This group has actually persevered and maintained a “can do” attitude through difficulties of testing and incorporating hardware throughout a worldwide pandemic, in addition to considerable and numerous technical challenges. When Lucy launches, it will be bittersweet. I will miss out on working with this team, however I am really excited to see the incredible discoveries that result from the Lucy mission..
What does the Planetary Missions Office at Marshall do? How does this aid missions like Lucy?
Our office manages the Discovery, New Frontiers, and Solar System Exploration programs with missions that check out the inner planets, external planets, the moon, asteroids, comets, and even targets beyond our solar system. We just recently included lunar instruments that fly on the Commercial Lunar Payload Services landers to our portfolio. Our objective is to boost the possibility of mission success of by providing technical oversight along with specialized assistance as required.
We are a busy organization and the advancement of our projects from the initial style evaluation to launch averages only 39 months. Lucy is the very first of three launches for our workplace in less than a year.
For Lucy, we have collaborated with the project group every step of the way through advancement ensuring schedule of any additional resources required to maneuver due to the pandemic.
The mission is led by the Principal Investigator from the Boulder, Colorado workplace of Southwest Research Institute. NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, is the main NASA center for Lucy, providing overall project management, systems engineering, and security and objective guarantee. KinetX in Simi Valley, California, offers objective navigation.
Called for the fossilized human ancestor, Lucy will be the very first mission to study the Trojan asteroids associated with, but not close to, Jupiter. Lucy is arranged to introduce no earlier than Saturday, October 16, on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V 401 rocket from Space Launch Complex-41 on Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
Sherry Jennings, objective manager for the Lucy objective, presents next to a model of the Lucy spacecraft. Lucy will be the very first objective to study the Trojan asteroids, two clusters of asteroids that might hold the key to opening much of our solar systems history. NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, is the primary NASA center for Lucy, offering overall task management, systems engineering, and safety and mission assurance.
NASAs Lucy spacecraft with its solar selections released. Credit: NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center
NASA is preparing to launch a brand-new spacecraft on a mission to unlock the mysteries of our Solar Systems development. Called for the fossilized human forefather, Lucy will be the first mission to study the Trojan asteroids connected with, but not close to, Jupiter. Lucy is set up to launch no earlier than Saturday, October 16, on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V 401 rocket from Space Launch Complex-41 on Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
Just as the objectives name supplied insight into humankinds advancement, the Lucy objective could change our knowledge of planetary origins and the formation of the planetary system. During its 12-year journey, Lucy will visit a record-breaking eight various asteroids– a Main Belt asteroid and seven Trojans that are thought to be residues from the development of the outer worlds.
Sherry Jennings, mission manager for the Lucy objective, positions next to a model of the Lucy spacecraft. Lucy will be the very first mission to study the Trojan asteroids, 2 clusters of asteroids that could hold the key to unlocking much of our solar systems history. Credit: NASA/Sherry Jennings
Sherry Jennings, mission supervisor at Marshall for Lucy, sat down with us this week to address numerous questions about the mission.