[아이뉴스24 정종오 기자] The Lucy probe, launched in October last year, passes by the Earth. Approaching the Earth up to about 350 km, it uses Earth’s gravity to head to Jupiter’s Trojan Asteroid Belt. Two clusters of asteroid belts exist 60 degrees forward and backward of Jupiter, the largest planet on Earth. Trojan asteroid.
Trojan asteroids are in very stable orbits due to the gravitational force formed by the interaction of Jupiter and the sun. Lucy is in her first year of flying for a total of 12 years. This is her second approach to Earth, and using Earth’s gravity, Lucy is expected to have enough energy to traverse the Trojan asteroid.
Lucy plans to study asteroids in the Trojan asteroid. Lucy will then return to Earth in 2030. He then heads back to the asteroid belt.
Lucy’s orbit, approaching Earth up to 350 km this time, is much lower than the International Space Station (about 410 km altitude). At this altitude there are many areas full of debris as well as several satellites. Because of this, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is in a state of extreme tension.
“For the safety of the Lucy rover, we are preparing procedures to anticipate potential hazards and, if necessary, implement small maneuvers to avoid collisions,” a NASA spokesperson said. When Lucy senses the risk of colliding with a satellite or debris, it is said that a system has been prepared that can dodge maneuvers 12 hours in advance and instantaneous dodge 4 seconds in advance to avoid a fatal collision.
Lucy was first observed from the ground in Western Australia around 6:55 a.m. local time on the 16th in the United States. Lucy is expected to be visible for a few minutes before disappearing at 7:02 a.m. on the 16th as it passes through Earth’s shadow. After escaping from Earth’s gravity, Lucy flies past the moon at high speed to the target point.
“Measuring the crater to understand the impact history of the Trojan asteroid is one of Lucy’s key research tasks,” NASA said. ” explained.
/Reporter Jeong Jong-oh([email protected])