news 
NASA’s Lucy Spacecraft Set for High-Stakes Asteroid Encounter on Sunday
NASA’s Lucy spacecraft is preparing for a high-stakes encounter with an asteroid this Sunday. The agency has confirmed the scheduled event, which marks a critical step in its mission to study these ancient and potentially hazardous space rocks.
According to NASA officials, the Lucy spacecraft will fly within 62 miles of the surface of the asteroid, named Donaldjohanson, on April 19th. This close encounter is expected to provide scientists with invaluable insights into the composition and structure of the asteroid’s surface, as well as any potential hazards it poses.
The mission is crucial in understanding the origin and evolution of our solar system, as asteroids like Donaldjohanson are remnants from a period when planets were still forming. By studying these ancient bodies, NASA can gain valuable information about the early stages of planetary formation and provide critical insights into the risks posed by near-Earth asteroids.
The Lucy spacecraft was launched in October 2022 and has been traveling through space for nearly three years to reach this moment. NASA officials have expressed their confidence in the mission’s success, stating that the spacecraft is well-equipped to handle the challenges of an asteroid encounter.
“It’s a major milestone for our team,” said Dr. Amy Simon, Lucy’s principal investigator at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. “We’re incredibly proud of the work that’s been put into this mission so far, and we’re eager to share the insights we gain from this encounter with the scientific community.”
The successful completion of this mission will pave the way for future asteroid encounters and potentially shed light on some of the most pressing questions in modern astrophysics.
NASA’s Lucy spacecraft is scheduled to transmit its findings back to Earth immediately following the encounter, allowing scientists to analyze the data in real-time.
Source: https://gizmodo.com/nasas-lucy-spacecraft-set-for-high-stakes-asteroid-flyby-on-sunday-2000589547
