Atlas V 401 | Lucy

Mission Status

The launch vehicle successfully inserted its payload(s) into the target orbit(s).

Weather Probability 90% GO

Mission Updates

Oct 16, 11:11 AM Nosu

Successful launch of NASA's Lucy probe on a 12-year journey to study the Trojan asteroids.

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Jun 3, 02:46 AM Cosmic_Penguin

Added launch time

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Oct 11, 05:42 PM Nosu

Launch time confirmed by ULA

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Mission Details

Lucy is the first mission to explore and study Trojan asteroids. The Trojans are a type of asteroids that orbit the Sun in two groups, in front of and behind Jupiter in its orbit around our star. Since these asteroids have been in such stable orbits for billions of years, they are of great interest as remnants of early Solar System. Lucy is a NASA mission led by NASA Goddard and Southwest Research Institute in Boulder, Colorado. Over the course of 12 years, Lucy will fly by seven different Trojan asteroids and also one main belt asteroid. The complex trajectory to visit all targets will include several Earth gravity assists.

Mission Type Robotic Exploration
Orbit Heliocentric N/A
Launch Window 09:34 AM - 10:49 AM

Rocket Configuration

Name Atlas V 401
Manufacturer United Launch Alliance
Height 58.3 m
Diameter 3.8 m
Maiden Flight 2002-08-21
Success Rate 41/41 (100%)

An Atlas V with a 4 meter diameter fairing, no boosters and a single centaur upper stage engine.