On October 7, 2024, the European Space Agency's (ESA) Hera mission will launch from Cape Canaveral aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. This mission follows NASA's successful Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART), which impacted the asteroid Dimorphos in September 2022, altering its trajectory.
The Hera spacecraft, about the size of a small car and weighing 1,081 kilograms, will travel several hundred million kilometers and arrive at its target in October 2026. Its primary objective is to study the effects of the DART impact on Dimorphos and to explore the binary asteroid system of Didymos and Dimorphos.
Hera will provide crucial data to enhance understanding of asteroid deflection techniques, which could be vital for protecting Earth from potential asteroid collisions. The mission will also investigate the physical characteristics of Dimorphos, including whether it is a monolithic structure or a rubble pile.
This collaboration between ESA and NASA marks a significant advancement in planetary defense research, as approximately 15% of known asteroids are binary systems. The findings from Hera will contribute to developing models for effective asteroid deflection strategies, crucial for safeguarding our planet.