NASA,s Lucy Spacecraft Will Slingshot Around Earth | Planet Rambler

The Jupiter Trojans are two swarms of prehistoric asteroids caught in Jupiter's orbit that could provide information on how planets formed. NASA's Lucy mission is traveling there. Launched on October 16, 2021, was Lucy. On the anniversary of its launch, it is heading home after spending a year in solar orbit in preparation for the first of three Earth gravity assistance. A swing dancing companion, Lucy will pass past the Earth on October 16, 2022, accelerating it and lengthening its orbit around the Sun.
Lucy will come within 219 miles of Earth at its closest approach at 7:04 a.m. Eastern Time, which is lower than the International Space Station. Due to the extreme close call, the speed will increase by 4.5 miles per second, sending Lucy flying when it returns to Earth for a second gravity assist in December 2024, it is on schedule to accelerate even more.