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Lucy

Viewing Posts from October 2021

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    Lucy Stable in Cruise Mode

    The Lucy spacecraft remains in cruise mode, which is the standard flight mode for outbound flight and allows for substantial autonomy for the spacecraft. The spacecraft has successfully executed several small planned maneuvers, which have had no adverse effect on the one solar array that is not fully deployed. On Oct. 29, NASA will adjust …

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    Lucy Spacecraft Healthy as NASA Continues Solar Array Assessments

    NASA's Lucy spacecraft successfully transitioned to cruise mode Oct. 20, which is the standard configuration for flight. The following day, the instrument pointing platform was deployed after temporarily being postponed earlier in the week. Both events were normal and raised no concerns. The spacecraft remains stable, power positive, with all other subsystems working, with the …

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    NASA Team Remains Focused on Lucy’s Solar Arrays

    After successful separation from the rocket on Oct. 16, NASA's Lucy spacecraft deployed both solar arrays. Soon after deployment, NASA received confirmation that one of the solar arrays was fully deployed and latched. Analysis currently shows the second solar array is partially unfurled. The team continues to look at all available engineering data to establish …

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    Lucy Spacecraft Healthy; Solar Arrays Being Analyzed

    Following a successful launch on Oct. 16, 2021, analysis of NASA's Lucy spacecraft systems show the spacecraft is operating well and is stable. Lucy's two solar arrays have deployed, and both are producing power and the battery is charging. While one of the arrays has latched, indications are that the second array may not be …

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    NASA, ULA Launch Lucy Mission to ‘Fossils’ of Planet Formation

    NASA's Lucy mission, the agency's first to Jupiter's Trojan asteroids, launched at 5:34 a.m. EDT Saturday on a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. Over the next 12 years, Lucy will fly by one main-belt asteroid and seven Trojan asteroids, making …

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    Exploring the Trojan Asteroids

    During its 12-year mission, NASA's Lucy spacecraft will explore eight asteroids. It will explore more asteroids than any previous mission. On its way out to the Trojan asteroids, Lucy will fly by the main belt asteroid (52246) Donaldjohanson on April 20, 2025. There, Lucy will fly by five of these L4 Trojans: Eurybates and its …

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    Lucy’s Solar Arrays Deployed

    Lucy's twin solar arrays have deployed. Acquisition of the signal has been confirmed and health of the spacecraft is being checked. Lucy is now operating on its own power and begins its journey to reach the Trojan asteroids.

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    Lucy Separates from the Centaur Upper Stage

    We have spacecraft separation! Cheers and applause can be heard from the launch teams as the Lucy spacecraft separates from the United Launch Alliance Atlas V Centaur upper stage to fly freely for the first time. In just a few minutes, the spacecraft's solar arrays will deploy.

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