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Lucy mission launch set for Saturday, has 90% favorable weather conditions

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — NASA’s Lucy mission to Jupiter’s Trojan asteroids launches Saturday from the Space Coast.

The 12-year journey is expected to reveal more about the formation of the planets and the origin of our solar system.

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During Wednesday’s pre-launch briefing, officials said the weather will be a 90% go for launch, and the launch readiness review is complete, meaning everything is progressing toward Saturday’s launch atop a ULA Atlas V rocket.

READ: NASA, ULA confirm ‘all systems go’ for launch of Lucy spacecraft from Kennedy Space Center

The launch is scheduled for Saturday at 5:34 a.m.

Lucy will be the first spacecraft to visit the Trojan asteroids. Lucy will fly by seven of the Trojans and one asteroid in the solar system’s main belt.

READ: ULA, NASA finish ‘wet dress rehearsal’ for upcoming launch for to study ‘Trojan asteroids’

NASA said no other space mission in history has launched to as many different destinations. The total mission cost for the 12-year journey is estimated at $981 million.

Lucy has a 23-day launch window. Should the teams need a backup window, they have it.

READ: NASA’s Lucy mission set to launch Oct. 16 to study Trojan asteroids

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Adam Poulisse, WFTV.com

Adam Poulisse joined WFTV in November 2019.