Lucy in the sky

NASA's Jupiter asteroid probe gets a crucial boost from Earth's gravity

A trip home will help Lucy get through the asteroid belt.

by Robin Bea
artist's rendering of Jupiter and Trojan asteroids
NASA/JPL-Caltech

NASA's Goddard Spaceflight Center

On October 16, 2021, NASA launched its Lucy spacecraft on a mission to study asteroids around Jupiter.

Southwest Research Institute

But before it gets there, Lucy paid a quick visit to Earth

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