NASAs Lucy spacecraft deploying its solar varieties. Credit: NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center
After its Earth gravity assist maneuver on October 16, the spacecraft will emerge from this partial communications blackout. At that time, the mission group will have more chances to try further deployment efforts if considered needed.
Launched on October 16, 2021, Lucy will be the very first area objective to explore the Trojan asteroids, a population of little bodies that are left over from the formation of the planetary system. In their orbit around the Sun, they lead or follow Jupiter and might inform us about the origins of organic products on Earth. Lucy will zip and bring out remote picking up on 6 various Trojan asteroids and will examine surface area geology, surface color, and structure, asteroid interiors/bulk residential or commercial properties, and will observe the satellites and rings of the Trojans. Credit: NASAs Goddard Space Flight
Starting on May 6 and continuing through June 16, NASAs Lucy objective team brought out a multi-stage effort planned to more deploy the spacecrafts unlatched solar array.Throughout the precise process, the team commanded the spacecraft to operate the varietys release motor for minimal amount of times, allowing them to carefully keep an eye on the spacecrafts reaction.
For now, more release attempts will be paused as the Lucy spacecraft gets in a scheduled period of restricted interactions. Due to thermal restraints brought on by the relative positions of the Earth, spacecraft, and Sun, the spacecraft will be unable to communicate with the Earth by means of its high-gain antenna for numerous months. Throughout this duration, the spacecraft will use its low-gain antenna remain in contact with Lucys ground team.
On June 21, the spacecraft effectively performed a trajectory correction maneuver, which is the second in a series of maneuvers to prepare the spacecraft for its Earth flyby.
As a consequence of this work, the mission was successful in more releasing the variety and now estimates that the solar variety is in between 353 degrees and 357 degrees open (out of 360 overall degrees for a fully released range). Furthermore, the range is under considerably more tension, giving it significantly more stabilization. The objective team is significantly optimistic the solar variety will effectively meet the objectives requirements in its current tensioned and supported state because of this.
For now, additional deployment efforts will be paused as the Lucy spacecraft enters a planned duration of minimal communications. Due to thermal restraints caused by the relative positions of the Earth, spacecraft, and Sun, the spacecraft will be not able to communicate with the Earth by means of its high-gain antenna for several months. Throughout this duration, the spacecraft will utilize its low-gain antenna stay in contact with Lucys ground group.