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Ralph, of NASA – a space instrument that has traveled to Pluto – is about to explore the Trojan asteroids of Jupiter, remnants of the early solar system.
Ralph was first launched aboard the New Horizons. In 2006, a spaceship made it possible to obtain superb images of Jupiter's flight and its moons.
This visit was followed by a visit to Pluto where Ralph took the first high definition images of the iconic minor planet. In 2021, Ralph will undertake the Lucy mission with the Trojan asteroids of Jupiter.
The instrumet will fly over another object of the Kuiper Belt called MU69 2014 – nicknamed Ultima Thule – in January 2019. Ralph's observations in 2014 will be provided by MU69. a unique glimpse of this icy little world.
The Lucy spacecraft carries a twin of Ralph, named Ralph, who will investigate the Trojan asteroids of Jupiter.
The suite of instruments The Ralph will study this diverse group of bodies; Lucy will fly with six Trojans and an asteroid Main Belt – more than any previous asteroid mission. Ralph will detect the chemical footprints of Trojan asteroids.
It allows scientists to interpret the data provided by reflected light from the Sun which are the fingerprints of different elements and compounds.
These data could provide clues about how molecules form in primitive bodies, a process that could also have led to the emergence of life on Earth.
First published: Nov. 08, 2018 19:05 IST
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