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In addition to the resources on this page, follow the progress of the Lucy mission at #LucyMission and @NASASolarSystem on your preferred social media platform, and read more on the NASA Lucy Mission Blog.

Highlights

Mission Animations and Videos

Activities

Handouts

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Lucy

Learn more about the Lucy mission and its journey to the Jupiter Trojan asteroids, a population of primitive small bodies orbiting in tandem with Jupiter.

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Artist's concept of the Lucy spacecraft flying by two of its asteroid targets.

An illustration of the Lucy spacecraft flying by two of its asteroid targets.

NASA/GSFC

Highlights

Second Earth Gravity Assist

On Dec. 12, 2024 at 11:15 p.m. EST, NASA's Lucy spacecraft, currently in a two-year orbit around the Sun, will skim Earth's atmosphere, passing only about 220 miles (360 kilometers) above the surface. This close flyby will result in a "gravity assist," putting the spacecraft on a new trajectory that travels through the main asteroid belt and out to the never-before-explored Jupiter Trojan asteroids, small bodies that orbit the Sun at the same distance as Jupiter.

Illustration of looping orbits to reach asteroids in front of and behind Jupiter.

This diagram illustrates Lucy's orbital path. The spacecraft's path (green) is shown in a frame of reference where Jupiter remains stationary, giving the trajectory its pretzel-like shape.

Credit: Southwest Research Institute

Dinkinesh: Lucy's First Asteroid Flyby

NASA's Lucy spacecraft flew by not just its first asteroid, but its first three, on Nov. 1, 2023. Early images returned by Lucy reveal that the small main belt asteroid Dinkinesh has a contact binary as a satellite (that is, its satellite is made of two smaller objects touching each other). The Lucy team used this encounter as an opportunity to test out spacecraft systems and procedures.

An image of asteroid Dinkinesh, at left, an asteroid with a slightly jagged surface and its two two binary satellites, at right, two small grey jagged orbs, taken from the Lucy spacecraft.

This image shows the asteroid Dinkinesh and its satellite as seen by the Lucy Long-Range Reconnaissance Imager (L'LORRI) as NASA's Lucy spacecraft departed the system. This image was taken at 1 p.m. EDT (1700 UTC) Nov. 1, 2023, about 6 minutes after closest approach, from a range of approximately 1,010 miles (1,630 km). From this perspective, the satellite is revealed to be a contact binary, the first time a contact binary has been seen orbiting another asteroid.

NASA/GSFC/SwRI/Johns Hopkins APL

First Earth Gravity Assist

After a year in orbit around the Sun, the Lucy spacecraft returned home on its launch anniversary for the first of three Earth gravity assists. On Oct. 16, 2022, Lucy flew by the Earth like a partner in a swing dance, boosting its speed and elongating its orbit around the Sun. Lucy made its closest approach at just 224 miles (360 km) above Earth: lower than the International Space Station. This close encounter helped Lucy gain more speed so that it can reach its targeted Trojan asteroids.

A spacecraft is shown approaching a globe of Earth, with a starry black sky in the background.

The Lucy spacecraft is shown approaching Earth in this animation still.

NASA/GSFC

Lucy's Journey Begins

Launched on Oct. 16, 2021, Lucy is the first space mission to study the Trojan asteroids. The mission takes its name from the fossilized human ancestor (called "Lucy" by her discoverers) whose skeleton provided unique insight into humanity's evolution. Likewise, the Lucy mission will revolutionize our knowledge of planetary origins and the formation of the solar system.

A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket with the Lucy spacecraft aboard is seen in this 2 minute and 30-second exposure photograph as it launches from Space Launch Complex 41, Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021, at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

NASA/Bill Ingalls

Mission Animations and Videos

Lucy Spacecraft's Second Slingshot of Earth

NASA's Lucy mission is heading to the Jupiter Trojans, two swarms of asteroids trapped in Jupiter's orbit…but to get there, Lucy needs a little help from the Earth.

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An image of asteroid Dinkinesh, a pair of grey asteroids with a slightly jagged surface, taken from the Lucy spacecraft.

Lucy Sees Asteroid Dinkinesh in Detail

Explore the main-belt asteroid Dinkinesh through the eyes of the Lucy spacecraft.

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Visualization showing a black and white image of stars, with a zoomed in view square of asteroid Dinkenish with a yellow circle around it. There's a timeline above the image showing the dates Lucy passed near the asteorid between Sept. 3 through Sept. 22, and will eventually Lucy passes by the asteroid on Nov. 1.

NASA's Lucy Mission Flyby of Asteroid Dinkinesh

Learn about the primary purpose of the Lucy mission's encounter with asteroid Dinkinesh.

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A large asteroid is shown at the left of the screen, with a smaller asteroid about a quarter of its size positioned in the middle. An even smaller asteroid is shown to the right, with a red circle around it. The text "Lucy's Journey 'Dinkinesh'" is shown beneath the middle asteroid.

Asteroid Flyby: Dinkinesh

The eighth installment of the "Lucy's Journey" series features the mission's first asteroid flyby.

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Lucy's Journey

Meet Lucy as she prepares for the first ever journey to the Trojan asteroids.

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A cartoon spacecraft stares out into the solar system.

Exploring the Solar System: Lucy Goes to Space

The first episode of the "Lucy Goes to Space" series features Deputy Principal Investigator Cathy Olkin.

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A cartoon spacecraft is shown orbiting around the Sun. Jupiter's orbit is also shown, as are the locations of the two Trojan asteroid groups.

Lagrange Points: Lucy Goes to Space

The second episode of the "Lucy Goes to Space" series features Principal Investigator Hal Levison.

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Planning for a Spacecraft Launch: Lucy Goes to Space

The third episode of the "Lucy Goes to Space" series features Project Manager Donya Douglas-Bradshaw.

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An animation showing a pockmarked asteroid, with zoomed in views captured in call-out boxes encircling the asteroid.

Driving a Spacecraft: Lucy Goes to Space

The fourth episode of the "Lucy Goes to Space" series features Lucy Flight Navigator Coralie Adam.

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A cartoon spacecraft is shown towering over two figures dressed in grey clean suits.

Working on a NASA Mission: Lucy Goes to Space

The fifth episode of the "Lucy Goes to Space" series features a variety of team members who discuss their roles on the Lucy mission.

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artist's concept of the Trojan asteroids

Where in the Solar System are the Trojan Asteroids?

Lucy is headed to Jupiter's Trojan asteroids, but where exactly are they?

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A computer rendering of the gold-hued plaque aboard the Lucy mission: mission logos, an orbital diagram and various inspiring quotations are shown.

NASA Lucy Mission's Message to the Future

Discover the special plaque that is onboard the Lucy spacecraft.

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Lucy Mission Overview

Learn more about the Lucy mission to the Trojan asteroids.

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NASA's Scientific Visualization Studio's Lucy Gallery

Explore this gallery for videos and animations relating to the Lucy mission.

Explore

Activities

A cartoon spacecraft looks diagonally up to the right at elliptical orbits. The words "Lucy's Mission to the Trojan Asteroids Activity Book" are written above the spacecraft.

Lucy Mission Activity Book

Explore the Lucy mission to the Trojan asteroids with this activity book. Available in both English and Spanish.

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A black and white coloring page showing an outline of a cartoon spacecraft, along with stars and asteroids.

Meet Lucy Coloring Page

Color your very own Lucy spacecraft.

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#LucyTimeCapsule

Create your own #LucyTimeCapsule.

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White paper cutouts showing the intricate design of the Lucy spacecraft.

Lucy Paper Snowflake

Make a Lucy paper snowflake!

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Handouts

A pop art style postcard showing four squares with outlines of the Lucy spacecraft and an asteroid.

Lucy Mission Posters

Download Lucy posters and collectibles from the Southwest Research Institute.

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A vintage style postcard of the cartoon Lucy spacecraft flying by the asteroid Dinkinesh and it contact-binary satellite, Selam.

A Postcard from Dinkinesh

The Lucy spacecraft sent back a postcard from her first asteroid encounter! This is from her flyby of the asteroid Dinkinesh and its moon, Selam, on November 1, 2023.

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