{"682537":{"#nid":"682537","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Unraveling the Mysteries of the Universe One Asteroid at a Time","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhat secrets lie in the universe\u2019s fossils? \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/lucy.swri.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENASA\u2019s Lucy mission\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E has the potential to make groundbreaking discoveries about the solar system\u2019s start. By studying ancient asteroids, NASA scientists expect to uncover clues about the conditions that led to the formation of the solar system.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/mission\/lucy\/spacecraft\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ELucy spacecraft\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E launched on October 16, 2021, embarking on a 12-year journey to explore several asteroids during flybys or when the spacecraft flies by the three main belt asteroids and eight Trojan asteroids. Lucy, named after one of the most significant 3.2-million-year-old ancient, fossilized skeletons, embodies the mission\u0027s aim to discover the \u0022fossils\u0022 of planetary formation.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn February, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/missions\/lucy\/nasa-selects-participating-scientists-to-join-lucy-asteroid-mission\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENASA selected eight participating scientists\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E to join its Lucy mission, including Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering Associate Professor \u003Cstrong\u003EMasatoshi Hirabayashi\u003C\/strong\u003E. The team will explore the Jupiter Trojan asteroids using highly specialized cameras to capture these ancient celestial bodies considered \u0022fossils\u0022 of the solar system because they have remained relatively unchanged since their formation. These asteroids share Jupiter\u0027s orbit around the Sun, called the Sun-Jupiter Lagrange points, L4 and L5. Hirabayashi will support investigations of Lucy\u2019s targets around L4.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ELucy\u2019s Scientific Instruments\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELucy is equipped with a suite of advanced scientific instruments that make this research possible. The Lucy Long Range Reconnaissance Imager (L\u2019LORRI), a black and white camera, will capture high-resolution images of the targeted asteroids. The Terminal Tracking Camera (TTCAM) will ensure precise navigation and tracking of the asteroids during the mission. Lucy\u2019s\u0026nbsp;Thermal\u0026nbsp;Emission\u0026nbsp;Spectrometer (L\u0027TES) will detect the infrared radiation. The L\u2019Ralph instrument, a visible\/near infrared multi-spectral imager and a short wavelength infrared hyperspectral imager, will collect data from the Trojan asteroids\u2019 surface for organic compounds, ices, and other minerals to determine their surface makeup.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EInvestigating the Data\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHirabayashi will support Lucy\u2019s science operations and investigations by analyzing instrument data including three-dimensional topography about the asteroids\u2019 surfaces. He will apply such data to gain insights into the asteroids\u2019 interiors. His expertise in interior analysis is particularly valuable for the mission. Hirabayashi played an essential role in \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/mission\/dart\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENASA\u2019s DART\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E mission, and he is currently supporting the European Space Agency\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.heramission.space\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHERA mission\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, studying the binary asteroid Didymos. He is particularly interested in understanding whether the environment of these asteroids was favorable for the formation of life, which closely ties up with Georgia Tech\u2019s efforts in astrobiology (\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/astrobiology.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Ehttps:\/\/astrobiology.gatech.edu\/\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E). Based on his findings, his dream is to develop and support future interplanetary large-scale missions to further solar system exploration.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAsteroid Visits and Timeline\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe mission will visit four asteroid systems whose names are derived from Greek mythology in the L4 Sun-Jupiter Lagrange point. Two of these systems are binary, meaning they consist of a large asteroid and a smaller satellite asteroid. Key flyby dates include:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAugust 12, 2027:\u003C\/strong\u003E Visit to Eurybates and Queta\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESeptember 15, 2027:\u003C\/strong\u003E Visit to Polymele\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EApril 18, 2028:\u003C\/strong\u003E Visit to Leucus\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENovember 11, 2028:\u003C\/strong\u003E Visit to Orus\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOne of the primary operational complexities they anticipate involves aiming the instruments at the asteroids. Lucy must navigate autonomously, making real-time decisions to ensure the instruments are correctly oriented. This requires sophisticated navigation, control, and guidance systems. From a data standpoint, they will have a finite number of images from which to theorize.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThere are a lot of unknowns, and getting information from very limited data or few images for analysis will be challenging,\u201d he said.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDonaldjohanson Asteroid\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOn April 20, Lucy did a flyby to capture high-resolution photos of the asteroid \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/image-article\/nasas-lucy-spacecraft-images-asteroid-donaldjohanson\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDonaldjohanson\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, which was believed to have formed 150 million years ago. Lucy continuously captured images while passing by the asteroid, eventually reaching about 600 miles from it.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThese asteroid visits will provide a wealth of data for the Lucy team to explore. Hirabayashi is supporting the team by better understanding the asteroid\u2019s surface and interior environments, the process of which will be directly applied to Lucy\u2019s Trojan targets.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cDonaldjohanson is our practice target. I am using this opportunity to test how my expertise contributes to the team and getting ready for our real targets at L4,\u201d he said.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EIn February, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/missions\/lucy\/nasa-selects-participating-scientists-to-join-lucy-asteroid-mission\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENASA selected eight participating scientists\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E to join its Lucy mission, including Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering Associate Professor \u003Cstrong\u003EMasatoshi Hirabayashi\u003C\/strong\u003E. The team will explore the Jupiter Trojan asteroids using highly specialized cameras to capture these ancient celestial bodies considered \u0022fossils\u0022 of the solar system because they have remained relatively unchanged since their formation. These asteroids share Jupiter\u0027s orbit around the Sun, called the Sun-Jupiter Lagrange points, L4 and L5. Hirabayashi will support investigations of Lucy\u2019s targets around L4.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Masatoshi Hirabayashi will utilize data from ancient asteroids to gain a deeper understanding of the history of space. "}],"uid":"36345","created_gmt":"2025-05-27 14:22:13","changed_gmt":"2025-06-05 12:55:47","author":"gwaddell3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-05-19T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-05-19T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"677130":{"id":"677130","type":"image","title":"LUCY-MISSION-KSC-20211016-PH-KNO03_0026-orig.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ELucy LiftoffNASA\u003C\/strong\u003E ID: KSC-20211016-PH-KNO03_0026\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPhotographer\u003C\/strong\u003E: NASA\/Kevin O\u0027Connell and Bob Lau\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA United Launch Alliance V 401 rocket, with NASA\u2019s Lucy spacecraft atop, powers off the pad at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station\u2019s Space Launch Complex 41 in Florida at 5:34 a.m. EDT on Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021. The launch was managed by NASA\u2019s Launch Services Program, based at Kennedy Space Center. Lucy will embark on a 12-year primary mission to explore a record-breaking number of asteroids, including the Jupiter Trojan asteroids. Named after a fossilized human ancestor whose skeleton provided discoverers insight into humanity\u2019s evolution, the Lucy mission will do much of the same, providing scientists and researchers a look into the origins of our solar system.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1748355781","gmt_created":"2025-05-27 14:23:01","changed":"1748355781","gmt_changed":"2025-05-27 14:23:01","alt":"Lucy Lift Off","file":{"fid":"260998","name":"LUCY-MISSION-KSC-20211016-PH-KNO03_0026-orig.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/05\/27\/LUCY-MISSION-KSC-20211016-PH-KNO03_0026-orig.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/05\/27\/LUCY-MISSION-KSC-20211016-PH-KNO03_0026-orig.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":6138712,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/05\/27\/LUCY-MISSION-KSC-20211016-PH-KNO03_0026-orig.jpg?itok=ikFzi-_g"}},"677131":{"id":"677131","type":"image","title":"Donaldjohanson-Asteroid.png","body":"\u003Cp\u003EImage courtesy of NASA via \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/image-article\/nasas-lucy-spacecraft-images-asteroid-donaldjohanson\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENASA\u2019s Lucy Spacecraft Images Asteroid Donaldjohanson - NASA Science\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;The asteroid Donaldjohanson as seen by the Lucy Long-Range Reconnaissance Imager (L\u2019LORRI). This is one of the most detailed images returned by NASA\u2019s Lucy spacecraft during its flyby. This image was taken at 1:51 p.m. EDT (17:51 UTC), April 20, 2025, near closest approach, from a range of approximately 660 miles (1,100 km). The spacecraft\u2019s closest approach distance was 600 miles (960 km), but the image shown was taken approximately 40 seconds beforehand. The image has been sharpened and processed to enhance contrast. NASA\/Goddard\/SwRI\/Johns Hopkins APL\/NOIRLab\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1748355862","gmt_created":"2025-05-27 14:24:22","changed":"1748355862","gmt_changed":"2025-05-27 14:24:22","alt":"donaldjohanson asteroid","file":{"fid":"260999","name":"Donaldjohanson-Asteroid.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/05\/27\/Donaldjohanson-Asteroid.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/05\/27\/Donaldjohanson-Asteroid.png","mime":"image\/png","size":793184,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/05\/27\/Donaldjohanson-Asteroid.png?itok=OxCnNc3X"}}},"media_ids":["677130","677131"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/ae.gatech.edu\/news\/2025\/02\/ae-professor-masatoshi-hirabayashi-studies-compelling-way-deflect-asteroids-earth","title":"AE Professor Masatoshi Hirabayashi Studies Compelling Way to Deflect Asteroids From Earth"},{"url":"https:\/\/ae.gatech.edu\/news\/2024\/06\/hirabayashi-chosen-nasa-join-european-space-agencys-planetary-mission-study-results","title":"Hirabayashi Chosen by NASA to Join European Space Agency\u2019s Planetary Mission to Study Results of Asteroid Deflection"}],"groups":[{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"136","name":"Aerospace"}],"keywords":[{"id":"1325","name":"aerospace"},{"id":"174074","name":"Asteroid"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193657","name":"Space Research Initiative"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EMonique Waddell\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["gwaddell3@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}