It's been a year since our intrepid explorer Lucy
launched on her 12 year long journey to the Trojan Asteroids.
Oh hey, you're coming back our way!
You'll need a little bit of help from Earth to boost you
all the way to your Trojan Asteroid targets.
This is an earth gravity assist or EGA.
There we are.
Planet Earth.
Okay, Lucy, So this is the first of two EGAs to get out
to the Trojan asteroids, with another to allow you
to finish your tour.
Each pass by Earth
gives you that extra kick to get you all the way out deeper to space and steers
you on the right track to your asteroid rendezvous.
Whoa, wait just a second, Lucy.
The team here on Earth is doing some calculations to make sure you don't
knock into any satellites or debris as you make your pass over us.
Make sure to grab some images of Earth and the moon on your way in.
It'll also help us test your cameras and get you calibrated.
The NASA Collision Assessment Risk Analysis team might have you do
some small engine burn maneuvers to avoid crashing into anything.
Some parts of the world, like here in Western Australia, will see
you soaring over us like a star in the night sky.
Others in the western United States will be able to see
you with binoculars.
It was great seeing you pass through, Lucy.
We'll see you again in December 2024 for your Second Earth gravity assist.
That'll boost you out
even further to get you your first look at the Trojan asteroids.