NASA Lucy Mission Will Reach Eurybates Asteroid in 2027
The spacecraft is scheduled to conduct a close flyby of the asteroid Eurybates and its satellite Queta in August 2027.
Updated on Oct. 1, 2026 in Space
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NASA's Lucy spacecraft is set to conduct a flyby of the asteroid Eurybates and its satellite Queta on August 11, 2027. This encounter is part of an ongoing 12-year mission designed to study 11 different asteroids.
Why it matters
The mission aims to examine asteroids that contain preserved material from the early solar system, providing researchers with insights into how our planetary neighborhood formed.
The 12-year mission targets a total of 11 asteroids, consisting of three in the main asteroid belt and eight Jupiter Trojan asteroids. The spacecraft is programmed to conduct flybys rather than landings on each target.
The players
NASA
The United States government agency responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and space research.
Lucy
A robotic space probe developed to perform a series of flybys of asteroids in the solar system.
The details
Lucy will perform sequential flybys as it travels through the solar system, with the Eurybates and Queta encounter serving as a major milestone in the multi-year project. Following this, the craft will continue its trajectory to investigate additional Trojan asteroids through 2033.
Timeline
October 16, 2021: The Lucy spacecraft was officially launched.
November 1, 2023: The mission successfully performed a flyby of Dinkinesh and its satellite Selam.
April 20, 2025: The spacecraft completed a flyby of the asteroid Donaldjohanson.
August 11, 2027: The spacecraft is expected to reach Eurybates and Queta.
March 3, 2033: The mission will conclude its final listed asteroid encounter.
The Big Picture
This mission extends the NASA Solar System Exploration program by providing new observational data on ancient Trojan asteroids. The project follows a precedent of deep-space flyby missions aimed at mapping the evolution of the early solar system.
While the mission currently operates in deep space, the findings will contribute to the foundational understanding of solar system history. These data points eventually inform broader planetary science models and future space exploration technology.
The takeaway
The Lucy mission highlights the importance of multi-target trajectories in gathering longitudinal data on planetary formation. Readers interested in space exploration can track mission updates as the craft nears its next targets.
Further reading
For more information on ongoing exploration initiatives, visit the Space section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Economic Times.
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