Illustration of the Lucy spacecraft near a big asteroid with Jupiter noticeable in the far-off background. Credit: Southwest Research Institute
On May 26, the spacecraft was again commanded to release the solar range. As in the very first 2 efforts, both motor windings were operated all at once for short time periods to avoid overheating. Afterward the group once again analyzed the data from the event, which again showed that the array was continuing to open. The team duplicated the release command sequence a fourth time on June 2. While the selection still did not lock, the data shows that it continued to further release and stiffen throughout the effort.
The team has several more chances to duplicate these implementation commands. While there is no assurance that additional efforts will lock the selection, there is strong evidence that the process is putting the selection under more tension, more stabilizing it. Even if the selection does not eventually lock, the additional stiffening might be enough to fly the mission as planned.
The spacecraft finished a trajectory correction maneuver on June 7. This was the first in a series of maneuvers the spacecraft will take in preparation for the objectives very first Earth gravity assist arranged for October 16, 2022.
Launched on October 16, 2021, Lucy is the very first space objective that will check out the Trojan asteroids. These are a population of little bodies that are left over from the formation of the solar system. They lead or follow Jupiter in their orbit around the Sun, and may tell us about the origins of organic materials in the world. Lucy will fly by and bring out remote noticing on six different Trojan asteroids and will study surface area geology, surface color, and composition, asteroid interiors/bulk properties, and will look at the satellites and rings of the Trojans. Credit: NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center
Lucy will explore the Jupiter Trojan asteroids– believed to be “fossils of planet development.” Credit: NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center
NASAs Lucy mission launched on October 16, 2021, aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket. Everything seemed fine– Lucy was on its daring objective to check out Jupiters Trojan asteroids.
Nevertheless, they quickly hit a snag. Although both solar arrays deployed, one didnt quite open all the way and lock in the fully deployed position. While the solar ranges are producing a lot of power, NASA is concerned that a main engine burn in today setup could damage the selection. Therefore, the team decided to move forward with a strategy to fix the issue.
NASAs Lucy mission group remains in the midst of that multi-stage effort to more release the spacecrafts unlatched solar range. On May 9, the team commanded the spacecraft to run the ranges deployment motor using both the back-up and main motor windings concurrently to generate more torque, i.e. a more difficult pull. The motor operated as anticipated, even more reeling in the lanyard that pulls the solar array open. After running the motor for a series of brief intervals to prevent overheating, the group stopped briefly to examine the outcomes. Data from the spacecraft revealed that the deployment was continuing likewise to engineering ground tests, enabling the group to move on with the 2nd stage of the effort. Analysis of the data likewise suggested that there was still additional lanyard to be withdrawed. The team sent the very same commands again on May 12. Although this series of commands did not lock the solar range totally open, it did advance the implementation enough to increase the tension that stabilizes the arrays as was hoped.
While the solar varieties are producing plenty of power, NASA is worried that a primary engine burn in the present setup could damage the range. NASAs Lucy objective group is in the middle of that multi-stage effort to more deploy the spacecrafts unlatched solar variety. On May 9, the group commanded the spacecraft to run the arrays release motor using both the main and back-up motor windings all at once to create more torque, i.e. a more difficult pull. Afterward the group again analyzed the data from the occasion, which once again revealed that the range was continuing to open. While there is no warranty that extra attempts will lock the range, there is strong evidence that the process is putting the selection under more tension, more supporting it.