News
Lucy Spacecraft’s Surprise Discovery: Dinkinesh Reveals Binary Nature
Lucy spacecraft’s surprise: Dinkinesh, a main-belt asteroid, revealed its binary nature, setting the stage for the mission’s study of Trojan asteroids.
Last Updated on July 5, 2024 by Daily News Staff
The Lucy spacecraft, on its way to study the Trojan asteroids in Jupiter’s orbit, recently made an unexpected detour. During a test run past a main-belt asteroid named Dinkinesh, Lucy’s tracking system revealed a surprising revelation. Rather than encountering a single asteroid, Lucy discovered that Dinkinesh is actually a binary system, consisting of one larger asteroid and one smaller moonlet. This unexpected find has provided valuable insights and sets the stage for Lucy’s upcoming mission objectives.
Dinkinesh’s Binary Nature Unveiled:
The name Dinkinesh, meaning “marvelous” in Amharic, perfectly encapsulates the astonishment experienced by the Lucy mission team when they realized the true nature of this asteroid. Initial glimpses of Dinkinesh in September indicated its potential binary nature, as its brightness changed over time. This phenomenon resembled the method used by astronomers to identify planets by observing the fluctuation in brightness when they pass in front of stars.
Lucy’s latest images of Dinkinesh confirmed the existence of the binary system. The parent asteroid was estimated to be about 0.5 miles (790 m) wide, while the moonlet measured approximately 0.15 miles (220 m) in size. This successful mini-mission made Dinkinesh and its moon the smallest main-belt asteroids ever to be well-imaged by a spacecraft, marking a significant milestone for scientific exploration.
Lucy’s Next Destination:
After this unexpected encounter with Dinkinesh, Lucy’s trajectory now sets its sights on future objectives. In December 2024, the spacecraft will undergo a second gravity assist from Earth, propelling it toward the orbit of Jupiter. Once there, Lucy will embark on its primary mission of studying the Trojan asteroids. These asteroids have been captured by Jupiter’s gravitational pull and are believed to have coexisted with the gas giant for billions of years within its orbit around the sun.
Alteration of Lucy’s Mission Plan:
Dinkinesh was not originally part of the Lucy mission’s itinerary. The spacecraft’s original plan involved visiting the main-belt asteroid (52246) Donaldjohanson in 2025, followed by a tour of nine Trojan asteroids beginning in 2033. However, the discovery of a conveniently located small asteroid presented an opportunity for Lucy to make an additional visit. Raphael Marschall of the Nice Observatory in France identified Dinkinesh, estimated to be 0.4 miles (700 m) in size. The mission team adjusted Lucy’s course, bringing it closer to the asteroid, and successfully executed the flyby from a mere 270 miles (430 km) away.
Lucy’s Journey So Far:
Launched in October 2021, Lucy underwent its first flyby of Earth a year later. On January 24, 2023, the mission team added Dinkinesh as a new target, deviating from the original plan. Through a strategic maneuver, Lucy managed to observe this fascinating asteroid two years ahead of schedule. It is worth noting that Dinkinesh derives its name from the Ethiopian term for the famous human ancestor fossil known as Lucy, after which the spacecraft’s mission is named.
Significance of the Tracking System:
Lucy’s encounter with Dinkinesh served as an excellent test for the spacecraft’s innovative tracking system. This system was developed to overcome the longstanding challenge of accurately determining the spacecraft’s distance from an asteroid and precisely pointing the cameras. By approaching Dinkinesh at a similar angle relative to the sun as it will during the Trojan asteroid encounters, scientists were able to practice under comparable conditions well in advance of the main mission.
The Lucy spacecraft’s unexpected discovery of Dinkinesh’s binary nature during its test run past the main-belt asteroid has provided valuable insights into the diversity of celestial bodies within our solar system. This surprise encounter showcases the capabilities of Lucy’s tracking system and its ability to adapt to unforeseen opportunities. As Lucy continues its journey, it promises to unravel more mysteries surrounding the Trojan asteroids and contribute to our understanding of the fascinating celestial objects that reside within Jupiter’s orbit.
Source: NASA
Check out this article from Earthsky https://earthsky.org/space/lucy-spacecraft-to-visit-asteroid-nov-1-2023/?mc_cid=c07b5b936a&mc_eid=36fb49e54a
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The Long Track Back
LA Metro Approves $71 Million Bus Engine Program and Advances Antelope Valley Line Safety Work
LA Metro will replace engines in as many as 680 natural-gas buses while advancing safety improvements at two Antelope Valley Line crossings in Sylmar.
Two newly confirmed Board actions will keep hundreds of Metro buses in service while moving two Sylmar rail crossings toward construction.
LOS ANGELES — October 28, 2026 — The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority has approved two major investments affecting bus reliability and regional rail safety: a nearly $71 million engine-replacement program for as many as 680 buses and a $27.6 million construction budget for two Antelope Valley Line crossings in Sylmar.
The Metro Board approved both actions on October 22.
Hundreds of natural-gas buses will receive new engines
Metro awarded Cummins Sales and Service a five-year, single-source contract worth up to $70.99 million for 680 near-zero-emission natural-gas engines. The engines will be installed in El Dorado National 40-foot buses and New Flyer 60-foot articulated buses during fiscal years 2027 through 2031.
The engines will operate on renewable compressed natural gas and replace older engines as part of Metro’s midlife bus-refurbishment program. Metro mechanics will perform the installations.
According to the Board report, replacing high-mileage engines should reduce engine-related road calls and improve the reliability of buses that remain in daily service. Metro estimates that the replacements will reduce nitrogen-oxide emissions by 90 percent and greenhouse-gas emissions by 9 percent compared with the engines being removed.
The decision also provides more context for Metro’s transition to electric buses. In September, the agency approved the purchase of 220 battery-electric buses, with deliveries expected to begin in 2028. The new Cummins contract shows that Metro will continue investing in its existing natural-gas fleet while electric buses and the charging infrastructure needed to support them are introduced.
Metro has not changed its zero-emission goal through this action. The engine replacements are intended to keep current buses dependable during the transition and do not obligate the agency to order all 680 engines.
Two Sylmar rail crossings move toward construction
In a separate action, the Board established a $27.62 million life-of-project budget for improvements at the Astoria Street pedestrian crossing and the Polk Street roadway crossing along the Metrolink Antelope Valley Line.
The crossings are part of Segment 4 of Metro’s Brighton-to-Roxford Double Track Project. Although the broader project remains in different stages of design, the Astoria and Polk plans are sufficiently advanced to proceed as separate construction packages.
Planned improvements include coordinated traffic signals, pedestrian gates and additional roadway gates. Polk Street will receive a four-quadrant gate system intended to make it harder for motorists to enter or drive around the crossing when a train approaches. Both locations will also be prepared for possible future quiet-zone operations.
The work supports Metro’s larger effort to improve safety, reliability and capacity on the Antelope Valley Line. Advancing the two crossings now also protects state Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program funding that must be spent and submitted for reimbursement by June 30, 2027.
Metro will conduct community outreach and execute the construction contracts following the Board’s approval. A specific construction-start date has not yet been announced.
Primary sources
● Metro Board Report 2026-0644: Near-Zero Natural Gas-Fueled Engines
● Metro Board Report 2026-0640: Astoria and Polk Crossing Improvements
This story is part of The Long Track Back, STM Daily News’ continuing coverage of Los Angeles transit projects, service and regional mobility.
Slate Auto and Smarties Launch Colorful EV Starter Packs
Slate Auto has partnered with Smarties Candy Company on six pastel customization packages for its upcoming electric truck. Announced October 27, the Smarties x Slate collection gives buyers another way to personalize the minimalist EV before deliveries begin.
The six Starter Packs are inspired by Smarties flavors: Blue Raspberry, Cherry, Grape, Pineapple, Orange and Strawberry. Each package includes a coordinating vehicle wrap, color-matched mirror decals, a Smarties-branded rocker decal, a logo decal, a customized key-fob end cap and a matching interior Slatelet.
Customers will be able to purchase the packages through the Slate Marketplace as their delivery dates approach. Pricing for the Smarties packages was not included in the announcement.
The collaboration fits Slate’s strategy of selling one simplified vehicle platform that owners can customize over time. Every truck leaves the Warsaw, Indiana, factory with gray exterior panels designed to be wrapped instead of conventionally painted. Buyers can keep the two-seat pickup configuration or select one of Slate’s five-seat SUV conversions.
The partnership does not change the truck’s core price or specifications. Slate continues to list the Blank Slate pickup at $24,950 before its $1,450 destination charge, with an estimated 205 miles of range. The range figure is still a company projection rather than a final EPA rating, and Slate continues to say its first deliveries are expected in the fourth quarter of 2026.
For Slate, the Smarties collection is more than a seasonal promotion. It demonstrates how branded wraps and accessories could become an important part of the company’s business model while allowing buyers to change the appearance of their vehicles without purchasing a different truck.
Source: Slate Auto’s official Smarties collaboration announcement
Entertainment
Patrick Stewart, Beloved Star of Star Trek and X-Men, Dies at 86
Sir Patrick Stewart, beloved for his performances as Captain Jean-Luc Picard and Professor Charles Xavier, has died at 86, leaving a lasting legacy across television, film and theater.
Entertainment News Brief
Sir Patrick Stewart, the acclaimed actor best known as Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek and Professor Charles Xavier in the X-Men films, has died at 86.
Stewart died October 28 at his home in Los Angeles, according to a statement from his spokesperson reported by Reuters. The announcement said he had been living with Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia and was with his wife, Sunny Ozell.
Stewart brought a commanding presence and a thoughtful approach to leadership to Star Trek: The Next Generation, which aired from 1987 to 1994. He later continued Picard’s story in feature films and returned for Star Trek: Picard.
His career also encompassed Shakespearean theater, including work with the Royal Shakespeare Company. He was knighted in 2010 for his contributions to drama.
For generations of viewers, Stewart helped make science fiction a place to explore questions of responsibility, compassion and humanity.
Sources
● Reuters: Patrick Stewart, Shakespearean actor turned Star Trek and X-Men star, dies at 86
● ABC News: Patrick Stewart dies at 86
