Engineers investigating iffy solar array latch on NASA's Lucy as probe begins long journey to Trojan asteroids

NASA's Lucy is on its way to the Trojan asteroids, but engineers have already spotted a problem with one of the probe's 7.3-metre solar arrays. The spacecraft was sent on its way from Cape Canaveral's Space Force Station's SLC-41 pad on Saturday atop an Atlas V rocket. The mission is set to last 12 years, over which the probe …

[Dwarf]

So, the summary is that Lucy couldn't wait to get her kit out for a trojan ?

I'm sure there must be an innuendo in there somewhere, but I'm damned if I can see it.

[Anonymous Coward]

innuendo

If you just keep trying to put the innuendo in, and then take it out, and then in again, out, in, &etc, I'm sure eventually something will come to mind.

[Mark 85]

When I first heard the name some time ago, I thought it referenced the Peanuts character. Looks like I was probably right as Lucy (the comic character) had a way of messing up the best efforts of everyone else.

I am curious though as space is a vacuum so no wind to shift the array.

[42656e4d203239]

>>I am curious though as space is a vacuum so no wind to shift the array.

so you have never heard of Solar Sails then? Plenty (for specific values of plenty) of wind in space.... just not a mixture of O2/N2/CO2 (plus impurities) like we have here on the pale blue dot.

[Mark 85]

You're right. I mentally spaced things a bit. I'll go stand in the naughty corner for a bit.

[Anonymous Coward]

Alert level

At this point all NASA has revealed is that Lucy didn't record a latching.

It could be a latching sensor fault or a deployed but unlatched panel or a partially deployed panel and they are analyzing the data to determine what it is.

once that is determined, They can start to determine how it will affect Lucy.

So we're at a butt clenching moment but not yet a twisted knickers moment.

I wish the best for the boffins (but no pints yet).

[Arthur the cat]

Re: Alert level

we're at a butt clenching moment but not yet a twisted knickers moment.

I salute your use of advanced technical terminology. Have a pint.

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: Laundry day for NASA.

What happens when NASA resorts to using a cheap* and cheerful washing machine door switch to sense things are closed (or in this case unfurled and locked in place).

*the lowest contract bid price.