This weekend, NASA's Lucy spacecraft will perform a high-speed flyby of asteroid Donaldjohanson, a crucial rehearsal for its 2027 mission to tackle a Trojan asteroid, all while traveling at over 30,000 mph and giving us no updates.

As it blazes past the harmless asteroid Donaldjohanson—now the closest thing we have to a celestial bowling pin—NASA's Lucy spacecraft is putting its engines through their paces ahead of its 2027 Trojan asteroid mission. With flight controllers anxiously awaiting data that will take 12 long minutes to arrive, it's a reminder that while Lucy may be speeding through space, communication isn't quite keeping up with the cosmic race.

Launched in 2021, Lucy is on an extensive 12-year mission to visit not one, not two, but an ambitious eleven space rocks—because who wouldn't want to collect the entire set? The spacecraft's first massive encounter happened earlier this year when it zipped past an asteroid named Dinkinesh, which, as asteroids go, was relatively charming, boasting a mini moon. As the saying goes, the mini moon really ties the asteroid together, doesn't it?

Each asteroid presents unique challenges, and Lucy's upcoming flyby of Donaldjohanson is no exception. At a distance of approximately 139 million miles from Earth, Lucy will approach the asteroid at a mere 596 miles. To put that into perspective, that’s like trying to park a car while your GPS navigates you through a miniature golf course. It’s precision engineering at its finest—or just a really good guess.

The lead scientist, Hal Levison, has cheekily compared Donaldjohanson's shape to both a bowling pin and a snowman, perhaps indicating that celestial bodies have fashion options too. It seems you can never quite be too sure about the geometry of asteroids, or when one might decide to host a friendly ice-skating contest. With an estimated length of 2 ½ miles, your typical bowling alley would be rather dwarfed in the presence of such exotic rock formations.

But the excitement doesn’t stop there. A flyby at speeds over 30,000 mph promises a spectacular view, albeit one that will be over in a flash—quite literally. In a world where patience is a virtue, those 12 minutes for data retrieval may feel like a lifetime for the flight controllers back in Colorado. "Just hit send again," someone might say as they stare at their screens, hoping for a celestial postcard with a blurry picture of the asteroid’s cosmic bowler hat.

Interestingly enough, during this flyby, there will be no contact with Lucy. That’s right; she’ll be engaging in a little interstellar 'me-time', turning her antenna away from Earth. As if to say, "Sorry, Earthbound friends, I need to focus on my career and my asteroid encounters." Some scientists have pointed out that this is probably the only time it's acceptable to ghost your friends—unless you owe them money.

Levison remains cautiously optimistic about receiving data within a day of the flyby, suggesting that while Lucy may temporarily turn its back on Earth, it’s likely to come back with some rock-solid scientific data. With no snacks or drinks on the spacecraft, the asteroids better deliver. After all, Lucy is not just a casual viewer; it will be actively observing every detail, all while maintaining its speed-demon antics.

As we collectively hold our breaths for the next chapter of Lucy's voyage, one can't help but wonder what secrets this celestial bowling pin may uncover. Perhaps it will turn out to not only be harmless but also an impressive rock star among asteroids, complete with an array of fans. Or maybe it will simply float by without offering much more than a cosmic shrug. Either way, here at Earth, we are still cheering Lucy on with fervor.

In the grand cosmos of space exploration, every encounter—be it a fast flight past a snowman or a mini moon—takes us one step closer to understanding our cosmic neighbors. And in moments like these, as we wait for the data to drop like a surprise birthday gift 12 minutes *later*, we are reminded of the little marvels (and the occasional mischief) happening far beyond our skies.