@LucyMission

@NASA's Lucy Mission is an epic journey to the Trojan Asteroids, "fossils" of the early Solar System. Account managed by the Lucy mission team @SwRI

lucy.swri.edu/
Joined June 2017
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Lucy, you’ve surprised us again New images from the #LucyMission’s first asteroid flyby show that a satellite, already unexpected, is made of two objects – a contact binary. This is the first time we’ve seen a contact binary orbiting another asteroid. go.nasa.gov/3QwiebO
Against the blackness of space, a diamond-shaped asteroid taking up about a third of the height of the image is on the left-hand side. It's lit from the left. At the very right of the image, two small rocks are next to each other. There's a black line in between them which is a shadow from the left-hand rock.

ALT Against the blackness of space, a diamond-shaped asteroid taking up about a third of the height of the image is on the left-hand side. It's lit from the left. At the very right of the image, two small rocks are next to each other. There's a black line in between them which is a shadow from the left-hand rock.

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In the Denver area? Come to a special event at the @DenverMuseumNS to celebrate the #LucyMission's first asteroid encounter and the upcoming 50th anniversary of the discovery of the Lucy Fossil! secure1.dmns.org/hal-levison…
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The #LucyMission flyby was a test run of the spacecraft’s terminal tracking system and instruments, which Lucy passed with flying colors. The team will use the data from the encounter to prepare for Lucy's next asteroid flyby in 2025. go.nasa.gov/40pe1eE
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This is why we explore. Turns out that asteroid Dinkinesh is… asteroids Dinkinesh? During the #LucyMission’s first asteroid flyby on Nov. 1, we discovered that the main belt asteroid is a party of two, or binary pair! go.nasa.gov/40pe1eE
Two asteroids against black space. The larger is a diamond-shaped gray dusty rock lit from the right. The smaller, mostly spherical rock is visible behind the larger’s lower right edge. This image was taken at 11:55 EDT (16:55 UTC) Nov 1, 2023, within a minute of closest approach, from a range of approximately 270 miles (430 km). From this perspective, the satellite is behind the primary asteroid. The image has been sharpened and processed to enhance contrast. Credit: NASA/Goddard/SwRI/Johns Hopkins APL

ALT Two asteroids against black space. The larger is a diamond-shaped gray dusty rock lit from the right. The smaller, mostly spherical rock is visible behind the larger’s lower right edge. This image was taken at 11:55 EDT (16:55 UTC) Nov 1, 2023, within a minute of closest approach, from a range of approximately 270 miles (430 km). From this perspective, the satellite is behind the primary asteroid. The image has been sharpened and processed to enhance contrast. Credit: NASA/Goddard/SwRI/Johns Hopkins APL

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Hello Lucy! The spacecraft phoned home and is healthy. Now, the engineers will command Lucy to send science data from the Dinkinesh encounter to Earth. This data downlink will take several days. Thanks for following along today and stay tuned! go.nasa.gov/3sgxWj7
A team in the Lucy mission operations center watch a large monitor with data about the spacecraft's position. Image credit: Lockheed Martin

ALT A team in the Lucy mission operations center watch a large monitor with data about the spacecraft's position. Image credit: Lockheed Martin

Three members of the Lucy team in the mission operations center are all smiles. Image credit: Lockheed Martin

ALT Three members of the Lucy team in the mission operations center are all smiles. Image credit: Lockheed Martin

About two dozen members of the Lucy team pose together while standing among computer monitors in the mission operations center, wearing shirts with the Lucy mission logo. Image credit: Lockheed Martin

ALT About two dozen members of the Lucy team pose together while standing among computer monitors in the mission operations center, wearing shirts with the Lucy mission logo. Image credit: Lockheed Martin

A team member sits with their back to a large model of the Lucy spacecraft with its large, circular solar panel arrays. Image credit: Lockheed Martin

ALT A team member sits with their back to a large model of the Lucy spacecraft with its large, circular solar panel arrays. Image credit: Lockheed Martin

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We expect that Lucy is at its closest approach to asteroid Dinkinesh at just 270 miles (430 km) away. But it's a quick hello, as Lucy speeds by the half-mile-wide asteroid at 10,000 mph (4.5 km/s)! go.nasa.gov/3MohgNv
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Just hours left until the #LucyMission's first close up look at an asteroid! Check out blogs.nasa.gov/lucy for the encounter timeline and latest updates! Find links to the full story in one place here: lucy.swri.edu/DinkineshEncou…
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Happy Halloween! We are expecting quite a treat tomorrow when Lucy has its first close encounter of the asteroidal kind! Learn how and why NASA is visiting the small main belt asteroid, Dinkinesh, here: lucy.swri.edu/DinkineshEncou…
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Near Boulder, Colorado? Tonight or tomorrow night, join us at the University of Colorado Boulder's Fiske Planetarium for a special presentation about Lucy and the Nov 1 asteroid encounter! colorado.edu/fiske/showtimes…
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🍂🪨 It's still asteroid autumn here at NASA. Next up, on Nov. 1 our #LucyMission will visit the first of its 10 asteroid targets, a tiny main-belt asteroid called Dinkinesh. This flyby will allow Lucy to test a crucial system: autonomous terminal tracking go.nasa.gov/4035kX2

NASA's Lucy Mission Flyby of Asteroid Dinkinesh

On Nov. 1 2023, NASA's Lucy spacecraft will fly by the small Main Belt asteroid Dinkinesh at 10,000 mph.

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Happy 2nd Launchiversary, Lucy! Two years in space!
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On October 14 the Sun, Moon, and Earth will be perfectly lined for a Solar Eclipse. While you won't be able to see it, Lucy will also be on almost the same line on the other side of the Sun! Learn more about the Solar Eclipse go.nasa.gov/Eclipse2023 and #WaveToLucy!
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Congrats @MissionToPsyche! So excited to see what you discover!
NASA's Kennedy Space Center
@NASAKennedy13 Oct 2023
🚀🎸🤘 Let’s mosh! A @SpaceX Falcon Heavy has launched the #MissiontoPsyche spacecraft from Launch Complex 39A. The spacecraft has begun its journey to Psyche, the metal-rich asteroid located between Mars and Jupiter.

NASA Psyche Launches Aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy

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Just one more week until the launch of our sister mission @MissionToPysche! 🚀🎉 We're re-watching #LucyMission's launch from Oct 16, 2021 while we wait. Go Psyche!
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Less than one month until the #LucyMission gets a close up look at its first asteroid, the small Main Belt asteroid, Dinkinesh! Check out the new resources page for more fun Lucy content as we get ready for this first encounter! science.nasa.gov/lucy-missio…
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A year ago today, the #DARTMission successfully changed the orbit of the asteroid Dimorphos, and Lucy was lucky enough to watch! This false color image shows Lucy's view of the debris cloud. Data collected from this #PlanetaryDefense test mission is still teaching new things!
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Tomorrow is the first day of fall, and this weekend is the first of three big asteroid mission milestones this season! Watch live coverage of the OSIRIS REx sample return this Sunday and have a great Asteroid Autumn! nasa.gov/osiris-rex
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Something big is happening in the Utah desert this Sunday, Sept. 24! @NASA scientists will gather for the arrival of the largest asteroid sample ever received on Earth. The cast of #AsteroidCity cast asked about the mission. 🔽 For more info visit nasa.gov/osiris-rex

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Getting excited for Asteroid Autumn! forbes.com/sites/jamiecarter…
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There you are, Dinkinesh! The #LucyMission's first look at its first asteroid target. nasa.gov/feature/goddard/202…
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