German-built ESA space probe Hera is ready to take a closer look at near-Earth asteroids
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - The history of Earth has repeatedly shown the danger that asteroids can pose, and even today, the devastating impact of a celestial body on our planet cannot be ruled out. Science fiction films feature technologies to prevent impacts, but can asteroid deflection also succeed in real life? These and many other questions are to be answered by the Hera mission of the European Space Agency (ESA), which will embark on a two-year journey to study the Didymos and Dimorphos binary asteroid system for six months. The launch window for the space probe will be open from 7 to 27 October 2024, with take-off on a Falcon 9 rocket from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, reports the German Aerospace Center (DLR). Continue reading original article.
The Military & Aerospace Electronics take:
3 October 2024 - "Sixty-six million years ago, an asteroid struck Mexico and was very probably the cause of the extinction of the dinosaurs. If large asteroids were to hit Earth, it would pose a real threat to our planet and all of humanity. With the Hera mission, we are expanding our knowledge of asteroids and, together with NASA, JAXA, ESA and other space agencies, are making a major contribution to effective planetary defence," says Walther Pelzer, DLR Executive Board member and Director General of the German Space Agency at DLR.
Hera will also carry two CubeSats, Juventas and Milani, each roughly the size of a shoebox. These nanosatellites will closely observe Dimorphos and eventually attempt to land on its surface in the mission's final phase. Their goal is to measure Dimorphos' surface characteristics, interior structure, and gravitational field. This data will help determine the asteroid's precise mass, which will have already been established by the AFCs. The information gathered will also be used to assess how other celestial bodies might be deflected, laying the groundwork for a planetary defense strategy in case an asteroid is on a collision course with Earth. Additionally, the findings will contribute to advancements in asteroid research as a whole.
Related: NASA names pair of 'Watts on the Moon Challenge' awardees
Jamie Whitney, Senior Editor
Military + Aerospace Electronics
