THE LUCY SPACECRAFT AND MISSION OPERATIONS CONTRACT EMBODIES THE MISSION'S REQUIREMENT TO DESIGN, DEVELOPMENT, TEST, AND OPERATE THE LUCY SPACECRAFT BUS. LUCY WILL EXPLORE SIX JUPITER TROJAN ASTEROIDS TRAPPED BY JUPITERS GRAVITY IN TWO SWARMS THAT SHARE THE PLANETS ORBIT, ONE LEADING AND ONE TRAILING JUPITER IN ITS 12-YEAR CIRCUIT AROUND THE SUN. THE TROJANS ARE THOUGHT TO BE RELICS OF A MUCH EARLIER ERA IN THE HISTORY OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM, AND MAY HAVE FORMED FAR BEYOND JUPITERS CURRENT ORBIT.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration — National Aeronautics and Space Administration