NASA’s Lucy spacecraft is gearing up for an exciting flyby of the asteroid Donaldjohanson on April 20. This asteroid, estimated to be around 150 million years old, is the latest stop on Lucy’s journey—an ambitious mission that aims to explore a total of 11 asteroids over the next 12 years, including Jupiter’s Trojan asteroids.
Each asteroid Lucy visits adds valuable information to our understanding of the solar system. A recent study from the Southwest Research Institute in Boulder, Colorado suggests that Donaldjohanson could reveal some intriguing surprises, especially since Lucy’s previous target, Dinkinesh, surprised scientists with its features.
Simone Marchi, the deputy principal investigator for Lucy, noted that based on initial observations, Donaldjohanson stands out as a peculiar object. Researchers used computer modeling to trace its origins, revealing that it formed when a larger asteroid broke apart. Over millions of years, its orbit and rotation characteristics have changed significantly. David Vokrouhlický, a collaborator on the study, indicated that Donaldjohanson might be elongated and could spin slowly due to thermal effects.
During the upcoming flyby, Lucy is set to gather crucial data about the asteroid’s shape, surface composition, and cratering history. These details are vital because they can only be obtained through close observation.
Historically, past missions like NASA’s OSIRIS-REx and Japan’s Hayabusa2 have sampled asteroids Bennu and Ryugu, respectively. Their findings have added depth to our understanding of these cosmic bodies. The differences between Donaldjohanson and these previously studied asteroids are notable. Marchi expressed excitement about the potential for unexpected connections between them.
The Trojan asteroids are particularly fascinating. They are thought to hold ancient remnants that can provide insights into the formation of our solar system. Hal Levison, the mission’s principal investigator, emphasized that these asteroids serve as crucial historical records, helping scientists unravel the mysteries of planetary formation.
Lucy, which launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on October 16, 2021, is breaking new ground in planetary science. Keith Noll, the project scientist from NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, highlighted the importance of upcoming close-up data to validate existing models about our solar system.
In a world where space exploration continues to inspire, Lucy’s findings promise to deepen our understanding of asteroids and, ultimately, our cosmic origins. A study detailing Donaldjohanson’s characteristics was published on March 17 in The Planetary Science Journal. For those curious to explore more about this mission, check out the full study here.
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