The European Space Agency’s Hera spacecraft is embarking on a groundbreaking mission to study the aftermath of NASA’s Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission, which intentionally crashed into the asteroid Dimorphos in 2022. Hera’s close-up observations of Dimorphos, a moon of the larger asteroid Didymos, will provide invaluable data to help defend our planet from potential asteroid threats. This mission could pave the way for more effective planetary defense strategies in the future.
Hera’s Journey to Unravel Dimorphos’ Secrets
The Hera spacecraft, launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, is on a two-year journey to reach Dimorphos, a small asteroid about the size of the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt. This mission follows the groundbreaking DART mission, where NASA deliberately crashed a spacecraft into Dimorphos to study the effect on its orbit around the larger Didymos asteroid.
Hera’s goal is to conduct a detailed ‘crash scene investigation,’ providing crucial data about Dimorphos’ shape, composition, and the characteristics of the crater left behind by the DART impact. The spacecraft will deploy two nanosatellites, Milani and Juventas, to aid in the investigation. Milani will survey the makeup of Dimorphos and the dust surrounding it, while Juventas will perform the first-ever subsurface radar probe of an asteroid.
Securing Earth’s Future: Hera’s Role in Planetary Defense
The data gathered by Hera will be instrumental in developing more effective strategies to deflect the orbital paths of asteroids that could pose a threat to Earth. Scientists believe that such strategies may require action years in advance of a potential collision, and Hera’s close-up observations will help refine these plans.
‘By the end of Hera’s mission, the Didymos pair should become the best-studied asteroids in history, helping to secure Earth from the threat of incoming asteroids,’ said Hera mission scientist Michael Kueppers. The mission will test out an experimental self-driving mode as Hera navigates around Didymos and Dimorphos autonomously, further advancing our capabilities in asteroid exploration and defense.
Hera’s Groundbreaking Contributions to Planetary Science
Beyond its primary mission of studying the aftermath of the DART impact, Hera’s journey will also provide valuable insights into the formation and evolution of the solar system. During its two-year cruise to Dimorphos, the spacecraft will execute a series of course-changing maneuvers, including a swing past Mars that will offer an opportunity for observations of Deimos, one of the Red Planet’s moons.
This mission represents a significant step forward in our understanding of asteroids and their role in the solar system. The data collected by Hera will contribute to a better understanding of the composition, structure, and dynamics of these celestial bodies, which could have implications for a wide range of scientific fields, from planetary science to geology.
