Lucy Earth Gravity Assist One: Animations

  • Released Wednesday, October 19, 2022
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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, spent a year in orbit around the Sun, and returned home on its launch anniversary for the first of three Earth gravity assists. The maneuver boosted Lucy’s speed and elongated its orbit around the Sun, setting it track for a second flyby of Earth in December 2024. This page provides artist concept animations depicting Lucy’s first Earth gravity assist.

Learn more about Lucy's first Earth gravity assist.

Lucy approaches the Earth and the Moon prior to its flyby.

Lucy fires its thrusters to avoid colliding with an Earth-orbiting satellite.

Lucy approaches Western Australia, coming within 220 miles of Earth’s surface.

Lucy crosses over Queensland, Australia, and heads toward the Pacific Ocean.

After completing its first gravity assist, Lucy bids farewell to the Earth and the Moon.

For More Information

See NASA.gov

Credits

Please give credit for this item to:
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center Conceptual Image Lab

This page was originally published on Wednesday, October 19, 2022.
This page was last updated on Wednesday, May 3, 2023 at 11:43 AM EDT.

Missions

This visualization is related to the following missions: