By NASA
May 12, 2022
NASAs Lucy spacecraft deploying its solar ranges. Credit: NASAs Goddard Space Flight
On May 9, NASAs Lucy group carried out the first of 2 planned steps in its efforts to complete the implementation of the spacecrafts unlatched solar range. This primary step was time-limited and was intended to confirm that the teams ground screening adequately represented the flight systems performance, rather than to latch the solar array.
The results are currently being examined to see if they are consistent with ground testing. The group will identify the next steps for the release effort after reviewing the information. The second step is tentatively arranged for around a month after the.
Introduced on October 16, 2021, Lucy is the very first space mission 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 might tell us about the origins of natural products on Earth. Lucy will zip and carry out remote picking up on 6 various Trojan asteroids and will study surface geology, surface area color, and structure, asteroid interiors/bulk homes, and will look at the satellites and rings of the Trojans. Credit: NASAs Goddard Space Flight