Fossils of Planet Formation: Lucy Mission Teaser

Beyond the asteroid belt are fossils of planet formation known as the Trojan asteroids. These primitive bodies share Jupiter s orbit in two vast swarms, and may hold clues to the formation and evolution of our solar system. Now, NASA is preparing to explore the Trojan asteroids for the first time. A mission called Lucy will launch in 2021 and visit seven asteroids over the course of twelve years one in the main belt and six in Jupiter s Trojan swarms. Lucy is named for the famous hominid fossil that sh