The spacecraft named Lucy is already attracting the attention of the public. With the participation of experts, several events open to the public are being organized just days before the assignment.
The details of the mission, which is planned to last exactly 12 years, are also becoming clearer. Here is the Lucy quest and all that is known…
THE SPIRIT WILL BE BROADCASTED LIVE
The Lucy spacecraft will launch from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, on a 12-year mission to study Trojan asteroids that share the orbit of gas giant Jupiter.
The launch, which will take place with the Atlas V rocket, is planned to take place at 12:30 Turkish time.
On the other hand, NASA is looking for possible changes in weather, etc. states that this time may change depending on the conditions.
The launch will be broadcast live on NASA’s website, social media channels and Space.com. The broadcast will begin half an hour before launch.
On the other hand, from October 13, NASA will hold various events with the participation of planetary scientists and engineers to share information about the mission.
Stating that these events will also be broadcast live on the same channels, the space agency stated that those who want to participate in the launch from behind the scenes and chat with team members in real time can register for free on the Eventbrite website.
WHICH ASTEROIDS WILL THE SPACE CRUISE VISIT?
“During her 12-year mission, Lucy will discover a record number of asteroids,” NASA said in a statement. statements were included.
In the statement, it was stated that the spacecraft will pass near a meteorite in the Main Belt between Mars and Jupiter and 7 meteorites in the Trojan belt.
Asteroids with different characteristics were selected for the task in question. These included meteorites classified as C-type (common asteroids made of chondrite, clay, and silicate), D-type (asteroids rich in organic molecules), and P-type (asteroids thought to be rich in organics and not found on Earth).
Lucy will be the first spacecraft to visit asteroids in these regions. “Lucy will show us for the first time the diversity of primordial bodies that formed planets,” NASA officials said.
“LUCY WITH DIAMONDS IN THE SKY”
The spacecraft takes its name from the earliest human ancestor whose remains have been found. The primate Lucy, found in present-day Ethiopia in 1974 and thought to have lived around 3.2 million years ago, was an adult female of the species Australopithecus afarensis.
The primate in question was named after the Beatles’ famous 1967 song, which included the lyrics to “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds”.
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE LUCY ISSUE?
NASA officials hope the spacecraft will provide important insights into the birth of the Solar System. That’s why the vehicle shares the same name as the primate Lucy, who provides unique insights into the birth of humanity.
“These asteroids will help us understand how giant planets formed and how the Solar System evolved,” said Harold Levison, who led the mission team.
In terms of this scientific value, meteorites are really like diamonds in the sky.
Lucy’s long journey will take her to at least 8 different asteroids, while the spacecraft will also benefit from Earth’s gravitational force. For this purpose, it will pass close to Earth many times before and after reaching the outer part of the Solar System.
This route makes the spacecraft the first of its kind. Lucy will be the first spacecraft to fly to Earth from outside the Solar System.
Source: The Independent
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