Lucy Mission Animations

  • Released Monday, October 21st, 2019
  • Updated Wednesday, May 3rd, 2023 at 1:45PM
  • ID: 20301

Lucy flies by its final target, the binary asteroid Patroclus/Menoetius. When it completes this flyby, Lucy will have visited an unprecedented seven asteroids.

Beyond the asteroid belt are "fossils of planet formation" known as the Trojan asteroids. These primitive bodies share Jupiter's orbit, and may hold clues to the formation and evolution of our solar system. NASA is preparing to explore the Trojan asteroids for the first time with a mission called Lucy, which will launch in 2021 and visit seven asteroids over twelve years. Like the famous hominid fossil for which it is named, the Lucy mission will improve our understanding of the ancient past, and be the first to uncover these fossils of planet formation.

ARTIST CONCEPT Lucy's seven targets: the binary asteroid Patroclus/Menoetius, Eurybates, Orus, Leucus, Polymele, and the main belt asteroid DonaldJohanson.

Lucy spacecraft turntable animation on black background

Lucy spacecraft turntable on white background

Lucy opening title card

One Mission title card

Eight Asteroids title card

Twelve years title card

Donald Johanson asteroid turntable (artist concept)

Eurybates asteroid turntable (artist concept)

Leucus asteroid turntable (artist concept)

Orus asteroid turntable (artist concept)

Patroclus asteroid turntable (artist concept)

Polymele asteroid turntable (artist concept)

Menoetius asteroid turntable (artist concept)

For More Information

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Credits

Please give credit for this item to:
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center Conceptual Image Lab

Missions

This visualization is related to the following missions: