Emily Costello, a planetary scientist at the University of Hawaiʻi at ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹, was as one of eight participating scientists to join its to the Jupiter Trojan asteroids. These asteroids are remnants of the early solar system trapped on stable orbits associated with, but not close to, the planet Jupiter.
On the Lucy mission, Costello will contribute to the goal of understanding the nature and history of Trojan asteroids by providing insights into the role of meteoritic impacts in shaping the surfaces of the Trojans.
“Impacts are a pervasive geological process on small bodies, so it is critical that we accurately decipher how these impacts shape the formation and evolution of the asteroids,” said Costello, who is a researcher at the in the UH ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹ (SOEST).
The impact of impacts
Launched in 2021, the spacecraft is the first space mission to explore the diverse group of small bodies known as the Jupiter Trojan asteroids. Trojan asteroids orbit in two “swarms” that lead and follow Jupiter in its orbit around the Sun.
Impacts from meteors mix the surface of these bodies and muddle geologic layers, called strata. Impacts play a crucial role in erasing and homogenizing certain surface features, such as crater rays, and in the evolution of chemical and physical characteristics. Costello will provide the Lucy team with a key piece of the surface geology puzzle, leveraging her impact modeling expertise and targeted observations of craters and the material they propel outward.
“The history written and rewritten by impacts will influence the interpretation of all observations by the Lucy mission’s scientific instruments that view Trojan surfaces,” Costello said. “So, it’s thrilling to be able to help interpret the first ever close-up look at these likely ancient asteroids.”
More about the Lucy mission
Over its 12-year mission, Lucy will explore a record-breaking number of asteroids, flying by three asteroids in the solar system¡¯s main asteroid belt, and by eight Trojan asteroids that share an orbit around the Sun with Jupiter. Lucy also will fly by Earth three times to get a push from its gravity, making it the first spacecraft to return to the vicinity of Earth from the outer solar system.
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Related UH News stories on Costello:
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- Building pathways for Indigenous lunar science at UH ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹, June 17, 2022
- Mission to find lunar ice gets $3M NASA boost, February 1, 2022
- Surface of Jupiter¡¯s moon Europa may have conditions for life, July 12, 2021