Lucy Spacecraft Will Slingshot Around Earth

NASA's Lucy mission is embarking on a remarkable journey towards the Jupiter Trojans, a fascinating cluster of primitive asteroids ensnared within Jupiter's orbit. These enigmatic space rocks may harbor secrets about our planet's origins. Lucy initially set sail on October 16, 2021, venturing into the cosmos.

Now, one year into its solar odyssey, Lucy is coming home on its launch anniversary, primed for the first of three Earth gravity assists. On October 16, 2022, Lucy will swoop by our planet in a spectacular celestial choreography, akin to a partner in a graceful swing dance. This intricate maneuver will boost Lucy's velocity and stretch its orbit around the Sun.

At precisely 7:04 am Eastern Time, Lucy will approach Earth at an astonishing proximity, a mere 219 miles above the surface, lower than even the International Space Station's orbit. This extraordinarily close encounter will propel Lucy forward by an impressive four-and-a-half miles per second, propelling it towards its next gravity assist when it returns to Earth in December 2024. This captivating mission promises to unveil more mysteries of our cosmic neighborhood.