NASA probe Lucy: Flight past Asteroid Donaldjohanson inspires researchers

NASA probe Lucy in front of the second rendezvous: What secret does this asteroid?

The NASA room probe Lucy is in the final preparations for her second flight past an asteroid. The asteroid, known as (52246) Donaldjohanson, will pass from earth at around 7:51 p.m. at 7:51 p.m. at a distance of only 960 kilometers and about 223 million kilometers. This maneuver is also followed and analyzed by the German Aerospace Center (DLR).

Donaldjohanson is an approximately four kilometer, presumably elongated C-type seasons, which is considered an important subject of research due to its carbon-rich material. The probe is equipped with an extended observation sequence that should make it possible to collect a variety of data about this old relic body from the early days of our solar system. Including high -resolution images, NASA expects valuable knowledge about the structure and surface properties of the asteroid.

to Dinkinesh comes Donaldjohanson

The previous mission of the Lucy probe already caused a sensation, especially after the flight past the asteroid Dinkinesh, in which a unique "peanut" double moon structure was discovered. Donaldjohanson himself bears the name of the paleoanthropologist, who discovered the famous "Lucy" fossil. Interestingly, Mr. Johanson will experience the flight in real time in the Lockheed Martin control center, which makes this moment special.

a slow giant with young origins

The characteristics of Donaldjohanson are particularly impressive: it belongs to the Erigone family, the remains of a large-scale collision that took place about 150 million years ago. This is relatively young in the cosmic context and could provide crucial references to such collisions in the solar system. Researchers are particularly interested in the unusual rotation data - the asteroid rotates more slowly than most of the known asteroids, with a revolution in around 251 hours. The high -resolution images that are made during the flight could provide information about its shape and physical properties.

look into the distance: Trojan asteroids in sight

After this flight, Lucy will continue her journey to the next destinations, the so-called Trojaner Sea seeds, who circle the sun on a common track with Jupiter. The first of these asteroids are expected to be reached in 2027, with the entire mission being created for a term of twelve years. A total of eleven flights are planned for various asteroids.

During the flight past, the communication connection to earth is briefly interrupted because the antenna of the probe is aligned with the asteroids. NASA expects to receive the first scientific data about a day after the flight. However, it will take some time until all data is transmitted and the secrets of Donaldjohanson can be completely decrypted.