The NASA Lucy space probe, named in honour of the ancient fossilized hominin “Lucy,” is a remarkable mission designed to explore the distant and mysterious Trojan asteroids orbiting in Jupiter’s Lagrange points. Launched on October 16, 2021, Lucy marks a pioneering venture into the outer reaches of our solar system.
Lucy’s mission is to conduct flybys of multiple Trojan asteroids, which are remnants of the early solar system’s formation, providing vital clues about our cosmic history. These asteroids are believed to be pristine remnants from the solar system’s birth, and studying them can offer insights into the conditions and processes that shaped our celestial neighbourhood.
Equipped with a suite of sophisticated instruments, Lucy will perform close-up observations and gather data on the geology, composition, and surface characteristics of these ancient space rocks.
