NOW: Three Russian space travelers say farewell to the @Space_Station crew ahead of their journey home to Earth aboard a Soyuz spacecraft: nasa.gov/live Coming up: • 9pm ET (01:00 UTC) Spacecraft undocking • 11:15pm ET (03:15 UTC) Deorbit burn and landing

💫 Lucy’s got some exploring to do. At 5:34am ET (9:34 UTC) on Oct. 16, our #LucyMission lifted off aboard a @ulalaunch Atlas V rocket. Now begins a 12-year journey to visit more asteroids than any other mission: go.nasa.gov/2Xh2hys

@dccampfin @NASAKennedy Yes! Lucy will perform two gravity assists to help get the spacecraft out to the Trojan asteroids in the Lagrange point 4 swarm. A final gravity assist will send Lucy on course to its culminating Trojan encounters in the Lagrange point 5 swarm.

@dolsson5 If the spacecraft is healthy at the end of its 12-year prime, the team will seek an extension. Stay tuned and follow @NASASolarSystem for mission updates!

The #LucyMission spacecraft has successfully deployed its solar panels, and now its epic journey to Jupiter's Trojan asteroids is officially underway. Fair winds and following seas, Lucy. nasa.gov/lucy

As the #LucyMission carries her own time capsule to the Trojan asteroids over the next 12 years, we encourage you to put together a time capsule of your own with messages to yourself & tokens from the current era. Share it w/ the hashtag #LucyTimeCapsule: go.nasa.gov/3aJyhyq

Launch! A @ulalaunch Atlas V rocket launches the Lucy spacecraft to study Jupiter's Trojan Asteroids! More 📷: flic.kr/s/aHsmWV7dC7 #LucyMission

Applause is heard in the @ulalaunch control room as the #LucyMission spacecraft successfully separates. Up next: deployment of the two 24-foot (7-meter) solar arrays.

"To be out here this morning is absolutely mind-expanding... to see what the creativity of the human mind can do." Paleoanthropologist Donald Johanson, who found the fossil for which the #LucyMission is named, reflects on launch & the origin of the name: go.nasa.gov/3j3EYQo

@kellySueMcM @LucyMission So happy you were able to catch liftoff on her special day! We're so sorry to hear about your loss and glad we could light up the sky on her birthday. 💙

We have indication of @ulalaunch #AtlasV Centaur Main Engine Cutoff 2 (MECO2). The #LucyMission Centaur and Spacecraft will now coast for approximately 11 minutes before spacecraft separation.

We have indication of @ulalaunch #AtlasV Centaur Second Main Engine Start (MES2). This will be an ~ 6 minute burn. #LucyMission

"Remember you are this universe, this universe is you." One day in our distant future, anyone who finds the #LucyMission will find a plaque containing poems honoring humanity's exploration of the cosmos. lucy.swri.edu/LucyPlaque.html

We have indication of Centaur First Main Engine Cutoff (MECO1). The @ulalaunch #AtlasV Centaur will now be in an approximately 27 minute coast before a second and final Centaur burn. #LucyMission

We have indication of #LucyMission @ulalaunch #AtlasV Booster Engine Cutoff (BECO), Core Booster Separation, Centaur First Main Engine Start (MES1) and Payload Fairing Jettison! This will be an ~ 9 minute burn.

💎 Lucy in the sky! Our #LucyMission lifted off at 5:34am ET (9:34 UTC). nasa.gov/lucy

@BenMofero5 @NASAKennedy Yes! Lucy has 3 different cameras on board: a color camera, a black & white camera, & a terminal tracking camera for wide-field images. Check out how these cameras & Lucy's other instruments will work together to help us investigate the Trojan asteroids: youtu.be/qLtgrQvcQOA

"It's really important to understand solar system formation to understand where we came from." #LucyMission Deputy Principal Investigator Cathy Olkin elaborates on the significance of studying the Trojan Asteroids:

"We're starting a decade of asteroid science." In addition to the #LucyMission launching today, Head of Science @Dr_ThomasZ expresses excitement for the upcoming return of the @OSIRISREx samples and the asteroid deflection tech demonstration, DART, happening later this year:

Wondering if you will see the #AtlasV near you? Our visibility graphic shows when the rocket will rise into view.

@AmeliaMissGacha Lucy is named for a human ancestor fossil that revolutionized the understanding of our human origins. This mission promises to do the same for the origins of our Solar System!

@_CK_07 @NASAKennedy 🛰️ With the solar arrays completely unfurled, Lucy is 51.89ft (15.82 m) wide! Standing on one wingtip, the spacecraft with its arrays would be as tall as a five-story building.

Let's launch Lucy. Live launch coverage of the trailblazing asteroid explorer starts now. Liftoff expected at 5:34 a.m. ET (9:34 UTC). Follow us and @NASASolarSystem for mission updates. nasa.gov/lucy twitter.com/i/broadcasts/1…

✨ !Gracias, @juanes! The sky is certainly not the limit, for any of us, or our #LucyMission. Keep looking up.

🌔 #ObserveTheMoon is coming soon! Oct. 16 is International Observe the Moon Night, a global celebration of lunar observation, science, and exploration. Join us on social media at 7:30pm ET (23:30 UTC) for our live NASA TV broadcast! moon.nasa.gov/observe-the-mo…

The #LucyMission has an incredible STEM workforce development program called L’SPACE. It was a pleasure to meet with two of the student ambassadors at @NASAKennedy. Watch #ScienceInSeconds to hear how this program helped shape their careers: lspace.asu.edu

@Ongacho 😎 We have just the thing! nasa.gov/launchschedule/

In English, it's #HispanicHeritageMonth. In Spanish, it's #MesDeLaHerenciaHispana. In both languages, it's a celebration. Check out our @Twitter Moment celebrating our diverse workforce: twitter.com/i/events/14381…

The Exp 65 crew worked science and upkeep as the station regained attitude control Friday morning. Meanwhile, a Russian trio gets ready for a Saturday night departure. blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/2…

In celebration of #NDEAM, meet Dana Bolles, who has been part of the NASA family for 26+ years. In addition to working as a science communicator, she’s an ambassador for a program designed to advance disability inclusion in space exploration: go.nasa.gov/3DHIzeX