NASA’s Lucy spacecraft, known for visiting asteroids is set to get fired up in space on January 31 for its next trip to explore Trojan asteroids. Lucy earlier performed a flyby around asteroid Dinky and discovered its twin, and is now getting ready for its new voyage to unexplored cosmic spaces.

Lucy is slated to visit two main belt asteroids as well as six Jupiter Trojans - asteroids that share Jupiter’s orbit around the Sun. Its firing-off on Wednesday will be the first time since its launch in August 2021.&nbsp;

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The firing of Lucy’s main engines will see the spacecraft burn through around half of its onboard fuel, as per NASA. This will be followed by a second and much larger manoeuvre, which is slated for Saturday (Feb 3).

<h2>NASA’s Lucy to fire off for its future voyages</h2>

Lucy will be fired off during two operations to change its velocity for further lined-up missions. The aim is to change its velocity by around 2,000 miles per hour (3,217 kilometres per hour).

The spacecraft had changed its manoeuvres earlier as well, but they were not as significant as the upcoming two manoeuvres.

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Over the next week, Lucy will complete two deep space maneuvers to change the spacecraft’s velocity by about 2,000 mph! In Dec., Lucy will use the Earth's gravity for a 2nd time to slingshot through the main asteroid belt &amp; continue on its journey. <a href="https://t.co/Zs9B0lFn8X">https://t.co/Zs9B0lFn8X</a> <a href="https://t.co/8W3S8tJuna">pic.twitter.com/8W3S8tJuna</a>
— NASA Goddard (@NASAGoddard) <a href="https://twitter.com/NASAGoddard/status/1752455690415677819?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 30, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Following these manoeuvres, the next major milestone for Lucy will be a flyby of Earth in December 2024, at which time the spacecraft will get a second gravity assist from our planet that will hopefully slingshot it onto a new trajectory. Lucy will come as close as 230 miles (370 kilometres) to the Earth during this flyby.

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The sequence of manoeuvres planned for 2024 will alter the spacecraft's trajectory away from its present solar orbit, which closely traverses the primary asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. This adjustment helped it encounter the tiny asteroid Dinkinesh, or 'Dinky', on 1 November 2023. Notably, Lucy's exploration revealed that Dinky is, in fact, a binary asteroid system, effectively a double asteroid.

After this, Lucy’s other mission will be to track around Jupiter Trojans. These Trojans are arranged in two loose groups, with one slightly ahead of the gas giant, the Greek camp, and another behind it, the Trojan camp.&nbsp;

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Lucy will visit the Greek camp of Trojan asteroids first, setting its sights on the asteroid Eurybates and its satellite or 'moonlet' Queta in August 2027, as per NASA.

After this, the spacecraft will fly past another four Trojan asteroids and three more moonlets, eventually making a final visit to Earth in 2031 before the Lucy mission draws to a close in 2033.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

NASA’s Lucy spacecraft, known for visiting asteroids is set to get fired up in space on January 31 for its next trip to explore Trojan asteroids. Lucy earlier performed a flyby around asteroid Dinky and discovered its twin, and is now getting ready for its new voyage to unexplored cosmic spaces.

NASA’s Lucy spacecraft, known for visiting asteroids is set to get fired up in space on January 31 for its next trip to explore Trojan asteroids. Lucy earlier performed a flyby around asteroid Dinky and discovered its twin, and is now getting ready for its new voyage to unexplored cosmic spaces. Lucy is slated to visit two main belt asteroids as well as six Jupiter Trojans - asteroids that share Jupiter’s orbit around the Sun. Its firing-off on Wednesday will be the first time since its launch in August 2021. Also Read | A bacteria-murdering virus may come in handy to kill superbugs The firing of Lucy’s main engines will see the spacecraft burn through around half of its onboard fuel, as per NASA. This will be followed by a second and much larger manoeuvre, which is slated for Saturday (Feb 3). NASA’s Lucy to fire off for its future voyages Lucy will be fired off during two operations to change its velocity for further lined-up missions. The aim is to change its velocity by around 2,000 miles per hour (3,217 kilometres per hour). The spacecraft had changed its manoeuvres earlier as well, but they were not as significant as the upcoming two manoeuvres. Over the next week, Lucy will complete two deep space maneuvers to change the spacecraft’s velocity by about 2,000 mph! In Dec., Lucy will use the Earth's gravity for a 2nd time to slingshot through the main asteroid belt & continue on its journey. https://t.co/Zs9B0lFn8X pic.twitter.com/8W3S8tJuna — NASA Goddard (@NASAGoddard) January 30, 2024 × Following these manoeuvres, the next major milestone for Lucy will be a flyby of Earth in December 2024, at which time the spacecraft will get a second gravity assist from our planet that will hopefully slingshot it onto a new trajectory. Lucy will come as close as 230 miles (370 kilometres) to the Earth during this flyby. Also Read | Scientists create AI-powered robot that reads braille at breakneck speed The sequence of manoeuvres planned for 2024 will alter the spacecraft's trajectory away from its present solar orbit, which closely traverses the primary asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. This adjustment helped it encounter the tiny asteroid Dinkinesh, or 'Dinky', on 1 November 2023. Notably, Lucy's exploration revealed that Dinky is, in fact, a binary asteroid system, effectively a double asteroid. After this, Lucy’s other mission will be to track around Jupiter Trojans. These Trojans are arranged in two loose groups, with one slightly ahead of the gas giant, the Greek camp, and another behind it, the Trojan camp. Also Read | Do moons exist outside our solar systems? Researchers argue on discovery of exomoons Lucy will visit the Greek camp of Trojan asteroids first, setting its sights on the asteroid Eurybates and its satellite or 'moonlet' Queta in August 2027, as per NASA. After this, the spacecraft will fly past another four Trojan asteroids and three more moonlets, eventually making a final visit to Earth in 2031 before the Lucy mission draws to a close in 2033. (With inputs from agencies)

Fired up! NASA’s Lucy spacecraft starts main engines in space for the first time since its launch

One of the circular solar panels of NASA's&nbsp;space probe, dubbed&nbsp;Lucy&nbsp;and packed inside a special cargo capsule, has gotten jammed.

The US space agency has said that the panels are being held by a lanyard and are working below 5 to 25 per cent of its total capacity.

According to Harold Levison, the mission’s lead scientist, ''It’s too early to determine longer-range implications to the entire mission.''

''Our team is working this very diligently and carefully to find a workable solution.''

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The first-of-its kind mission aims to study Jupiter's Trojan asteroids, two large clusters of space rocks that scientists believe are remnants of primordial material that formed the solar system's outer planets.

The problem had started after the liftoff of the spacecraft which is 24 feet in diametre. It is essential for both panels to work properly to keep the spacecraft healthy and functioning.

Scientists hope Lucy's close-up fly-by of seven Trojans will yield new clues to how the solar system's planets came to be formed some 4.5 billion years ago and what shaped their present configuration.

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Believed to be rich in carbon compounds, the asteroids may even provide new insights into the origin of organic materials and life on Earth, NASA said.

No other single science mission has been designed to visit as many different objects independently orbiting the sun in the history of space exploration, it added.

The probe will use rocket thrusters to maneuver in space and two rounded solar arrays, each the width of a school bus, to recharge batteries that will power the instruments contained in the much smaller central body of the spacecraft. 
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One of the circular solar panels of NASA's space probe, dubbed Lucy and packed inside a special cargo capsule, has gotten jammed. The US space agency has said that the panels are being held by a lanyard and are working below 5 to 25 per cent of its total capacity.

One of the circular solar panels of NASA's space probe, dubbed Lucy and packed inside a special cargo capsule, has gotten jammed. The US space agency has said that the panels are being held by a lanyard and are working below 5 to 25 per cent of its total capacity. According to Harold Levison, the mission’s lead scientist, ''It’s too early to determine longer-range implications to the entire mission.'' ''Our team is working this very diligently and carefully to find a workable solution.'' Also read | Mysterious radio signals from Proxima Centauri came due to interference on earth The first-of-its kind mission aims to study Jupiter's Trojan asteroids, two large clusters of space rocks that scientists believe are remnants of primordial material that formed the solar system's outer planets. The problem had started after the liftoff of the spacecraft which is 24 feet in diametre. It is essential for both panels to work properly to keep the spacecraft healthy and functioning. Scientists hope Lucy's close-up fly-by of seven Trojans will yield new clues to how the solar system's planets came to be formed some 4.5 billion years ago and what shaped their present configuration. Also read | Planet outside Milky Way galaxy: This unique discovery is baffling scientists Believed to be rich in carbon compounds, the asteroids may even provide new insights into the origin of organic materials and life on Earth, NASA said. No other single science mission has been designed to visit as many different objects independently orbiting the sun in the history of space exploration, it added. The probe will use rocket thrusters to maneuver in space and two rounded solar arrays, each the width of a school bus, to recharge batteries that will power the instruments contained in the much smaller central body of the spacecraft.

NASA's Lucy spacecraft facing technical problems, solar panels get jammed

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Fired up! NASA’s Lucy spacecraft starts main engines in space for the first time since its launch

NASA's Lucy spacecraft facing technical problems, solar panels get jammed