In 2021, a spacecraft was launched to explore a special group of asteroids within our solar system. Six years later, it will make its next flyby

The Lucy mission of NASA began its journey on October 16, 2021. The spacecraft looks to study a record-breaking number of asteroids. The spacecraft will visit 11 target asteroids during its 12-year mission. Three targets are in the solar system’s main asteroid belt, while eight are Jupiter Trojan asteroids. Lucy has already completed flybys of Dinkinesh, its satellite Selam, and Donaldjohanson. Its next planned encounter is with Eurybates and its satellite Queta on August 11, 2027.

What is the Lucy mission?

The Lucy mission is a NASA spacecraft mission designed to study asteroids that preserve material from the early solar system. It is the first spacecraft mission to explore Jupiter Trojan asteroids. These asteroids are remnants from the early stages of the solar system.


Lucy will make asteroid flybys rather than land on the objects. The mission is planned to study 11 asteroids. This includes three asteroids in the main asteroid belt and eight Trojan asteroids associated with Jupiter.

Lucy asteroid flybys from 2027

The spacecraft’s next flyby is scheduled for August 11, 2027. Lucy will pass Eurybates and its satellite Queta. The mission will then continue with additional Trojan asteroid encounters. Polymele and its unnamed satellite are scheduled for a flyby on September 14, 2027.

Lucy will visit Leucus on April 18, 2028, followed by Orus on November 11, 2028. The final listed Trojan asteroid encounter is planned for March 3, 2033. Lucy will fly by Patroclus and its satellite Menoetius. These encounters form part of the mission’s planned sequence as Lucy travels through the solar system.

Which asteroids has Lucy already visited?

Lucy has already completed two main-belt asteroid encounters. The first was Dinkinesh on November 1, 2023. The spacecraft also encountered Selam, a contact binary satellite associated with Dinkinesh. The second main-belt target was Donaldjohanson. Lucy flew by the asteroid on April 20, 2025. These encounters came before the spacecraft begins its series of planned Jupiter Trojan asteroid flybys.

Lucy’s asteroid targets and dates

The mission has 11 target asteroids, including satellites associated with some of the main targets.

Main asteroid belt:

Dinkinesh and Selam: November 1, 2023

Donaldjohanson: April 20, 2025

Jupiter Trojan asteroids:

Eurybates and Queta: August 11, 2027

Polymele and its unnamed satellite: September 14, 2027

Leucus: April 18, 2028

Orus: November 11, 2028

Patroclus and Menoetius: March 3, 2033

Why are Jupiter Trojan asteroids important?

Jupiter Trojan asteroids occupy stable orbits connected with Jupiter. They are not located close to the planet. Scientists study them because they are remnants of material from the early solar system.

Lucy is the first spacecraft to explore this group of asteroids. By visiting several targets, the mission is designed to provide observations of different bodies that remain in these Jupiter-associated orbits. The mission also includes main-belt asteroids. This gives Lucy a sequence of targets across different asteroid populations during its journey.

What happens after the 2027 flyby?

After the August 11, 2027 encounter with Eurybates and Queta, Lucy is scheduled to visit Polymele and its unnamed satellite on September 14 of the same year. The Lucy mission therefore covers a 12-year period beginning with its October 16, 2021 launch. Its asteroid flybys are spread across the main asteroid belt and the Jupiter Trojan population.