Lucy Earth Gravity Assist 2 Trajectory Visualizations

NASA’s Lucy mission is heading to the Jupiter Trojans – two swarms of primitive asteroids trapped in Jupiter’s orbit that may hold clues to the formation of the planets. Lucy launched on October 16, 2021, and returned home exactly one year later for the first of three gravity assists, raising its orbit to skim the inner edge of the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. Now, Lucy is returning home once again for another gravitational tug. On December 12, at 1:20 pm Eastern Time, it will cross the Moon’s orbit from the direction of the Sun and will be greeted by a brilliant view of Australia and the Pacific Ocean. At 11:15 pm, it will make its closest approach to the planet, skimming about 220 miles above the ocean west of California. The encounter will increase Lucy’s velocity by four-and-a-half miles per second, allowing it to pass over North America in only seven minutes. The 2024 encounter will more than double Lucy’s furthest distance from the Sun, allowing it to reach the L4 Trojans that travel ahead of Jupiter, beginning in August 2027.