NASA’s Lucy asteroid spacecraft photo voltaic array rescue efforts continuing
NASA’s Lucy mission group is continuing initiatives to suitable the incomplete deployment of a single of the spacecraft’s solar arrays as it proceeds to Jupiter’s Trojan asteroids.
The Lucy mission, which launched in Oct 2021, has two large, round photo voltaic arrays, every single spanning 24 toes (7 meters), to present ability for its groundbreaking voyage. On the other hand, a single of the arrays unsuccessful to entirely deploy following start, posing a challenge for the crew. An update in January stated that the next array is a tiny much less than 350 degrees deployed, due to an situation with a lanyard suspected to have prevented complete deployment, but perform to deal with the situation has ongoing.
Following a series of checks and measures, the crew again commanded the spacecraft to deploy the solar array on Could 26, using both of those major and backup motors to test to tighten the lanyard and total deployment.
Connected: Fulfill the 8 asteroids NASA’s Lucy spacecraft will go to
“When the array however did not latch, the information signifies that it ongoing to more deploy and stiffen all over the attempt,” NASA Lucy mission reps wrote in a June 8 update (opens in new tab). “The staff has many much more opportunities to repeat these deployment commands. Even though there is no promise that added attempts will latch the array, there is potent proof that the approach is placing the array beneath much more tension, even further stabilizing it.”
But even if the array does not totally deploy, Lucy may possibly be capable to fly as prepared. For now, strength is not an challenge, as the spacecraft is still relatively close to the solar. Lucy carried out a profitable trajectory correction maneuver on June 7 as section of preparation for its initially Earth gravity assist, scheduled for Oct. 16.
The arrays have been designed to crank out sufficient electricity though out at the orbit of Jupiter — an ordinary length of 484 million miles (778 million kilometers) from the sunshine.
Jupiter’s Trojan asteroids orbit the sun forward of and behind Jupiter, and no spacecraft has at any time frequented them. Scientists consider these primitive rocks are remnants of the early solar method and could keep important clues about its generation.
Comply with us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook.
NASA’s Lucy mission group is continuing initiatives to suitable the incomplete deployment of a single of the spacecraft’s solar arrays as it proceeds to Jupiter’s Trojan asteroids.
The Lucy mission, which launched in Oct 2021, has two large, round photo voltaic arrays, every single spanning 24 toes (7 meters), to present ability for its groundbreaking voyage. On the other hand, a single of the arrays unsuccessful to entirely deploy following start, posing a challenge for the crew. An update in January stated that the next array is a tiny much less than 350 degrees deployed, due to an situation with a lanyard suspected to have prevented complete deployment, but perform to deal with the situation has ongoing.
Following a series of checks and measures, the crew again commanded the spacecraft to deploy the solar array on Could 26, using both of those major and backup motors to test to tighten the lanyard and total deployment.
Connected: Fulfill the 8 asteroids NASA’s Lucy spacecraft will go to
“When the array however did not latch, the information signifies that it ongoing to more deploy and stiffen all over the attempt,” NASA Lucy mission reps wrote in a June 8 update (opens in new tab). “The staff has many much more opportunities to repeat these deployment commands. Even though there is no promise that added attempts will latch the array, there is potent proof that the approach is placing the array beneath much more tension, even further stabilizing it.”
But even if the array does not totally deploy, Lucy may possibly be capable to fly as prepared. For now, strength is not an challenge, as the spacecraft is still relatively close to the solar. Lucy carried out a profitable trajectory correction maneuver on June 7 as section of preparation for its initially Earth gravity assist, scheduled for Oct. 16.
The arrays have been designed to crank out sufficient electricity though out at the orbit of Jupiter — an ordinary length of 484 million miles (778 million kilometers) from the sunshine.
Jupiter’s Trojan asteroids orbit the sun forward of and behind Jupiter, and no spacecraft has at any time frequented them. Scientists consider these primitive rocks are remnants of the early solar method and could keep important clues about its generation.
Comply with us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook.