{"id":769845,"date":"2023-10-13T13:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-10-13T17:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/spaceweekly.com\/?p=769845"},"modified":"2023-10-13T13:00:00","modified_gmt":"2023-10-13T17:00:00","slug":"nasas-lucy-spacecraft-continues-approach-to-asteroid-dinkinesh-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/spaceweekly.com\/?p=769845","title":{"rendered":"NASA\u2019s Lucy Spacecraft Continues Approach to Asteroid Dinkinesh"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n
\n

2 min read<\/p>\n

NASA\u2019s Lucy Spacecraft Continues Approach to Asteroid Dinkinesh<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Since NASA\u2019s Lucy spacecraft first imaged the asteroid Dinkinesh<\/a> on Sept. 3, 2023, Lucy has traveled over 33 million miles (54 million km) and is now 4.7 million miles (7.6 million km) away from the small asteroid. However, as Dinkinesh continues on its orbit around the Sun, Lucy still has another almost 16 million miles (25 million km) to travel to its meet-up with the asteroid on Nov. 1.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n\t\t\t<!– –>
\n\t\t\t

To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that
\n\t\t\t\t\tsupports HTML5 video<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/p><\/video>\n\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n
This data visualization overlays some of the images taken by the Lucy spacecraft\u2019s L\u2019LORRI from Sept. 3, 2023, to Oct. 3, 2023, on the Lucy trajectory (red) and the orbit of the asteroid Dinkinesh (gold). These images were taken as part of the optical navigation program in advance of the encounter on Nov. 1. The stars indicate the locations at closest approach on Nov. 1, 2023. Credits: NASA\/SwRI\/APL<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Over the last month, the spacecraft team has seen the target asteroid generally brightening as Lucy approaches it and has also seen a subtle brightness variation consistent with the previously observed 52.7-hour rotation period. Since Lucy first observed the asteroid on Sept. 3, the team has used images collected by the spacecraft\u2019s high-resolution camera, L\u2019LORRI, to refine their knowledge of the relative positions of the spacecraft and asteroid, optically navigating Lucy towards the encounter. Using this information, on Sept. 29 the spacecraft carried out a small trajectory correction maneuver, changing the spacecraft\u2019s speed by just 6 cm\/s (around 0.1 mph). This nudge is predicted to send the spacecraft on a path that will pass within 265 miles (425 km) of the asteroid. In late October the team will have another opportunity to adjust the trajectory if necessary.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

On Oct. 6, the spacecraft passed behind the Sun as viewed from Earth, beginning a planned communications blackout. The spacecraft has continued to image the asteroid and will return these images to Earth once communications resume after the end of the solar conjunction period in mid-October.<\/p>\n

Lucy\u2019s principal investigator, Hal Levison, is based out of the Boulder, Colorado, branch of Southwest Research Institute, headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. NASA\u2019s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, provides overall mission management, systems engineering, and safety and mission assurance. Lockheed Martin Space in Littleton, Colorado, built the spacecraft. Lucy is the 13th mission in NASA\u2019s Discovery Program. NASA\u2019s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, manages the Discovery Program for the Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington.<\/p>\n

Written by:
Katherine Kretke, Southwest Research Institute<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Media contact:
Nancy Neal Jones, NASA\u2019s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland
Nancy.N.Jones@nasa.gov<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\t<\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

Share<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
\n