The excitement surrounding space exploration continues to reach new heights as the European Space Agency (ESA) recently launched its much-anticipated Hera mission. The launch took place on October 7, 2024, at 10:52 AM EDT (1452 GMT) from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida. This mission sets off on what can be described as a multimillion-mile expedition through our solar system, aimed at studying the binary asteroid system known as Didymos.
Didymos is no stranger to recent attention. It shot to fame after NASA's successful DART (Double Asteroid Redirect Test) mission, which smashed the DART spacecraft directly against Dimorphos, the smaller companion of the Didymos asteroid duo, back in September 2022. This deliberate impact altered the orbit of Dimorphos, showcasing the potential for using such strategies as planetary defense against dangerous asteroids.
According to ESA sources, the Hera mission serves as a follow-up initiative to DART's groundbreaking experiment, with scientists eager to glean insights from its outcomes. Astronomer Alan Fitzsimmons, who is part of the Hera science team, eagerly noted before the launch, "We want to see the acquisition of signal at the end where Hera calls home and says, 'It's okay, I'm on my way to Dimorphos.'"
Shortly after launch, Hera successfully separated from the Falcon 9 rocket’s upper stage approximately 76 minutes post-liftoff. ESA officials confirmed the spacecraft established contact for signal acquisition, marking the mission’s first major milestone. Fitzsimmons remarked, "We've got a working spacecraft. We're now going back to Didymos and Dimorphos, we'll make those measurements, and we'll make the world a safer place from the impact of asteroids."
Hera’s voyage is backed by significant funding, with the mission costing around $398 million, or about 363 million euros. Alongside Hera, two cubesats—Milani and Juventas—are part of this ambitious venture, set to arrive at Dimorphos around late 2026. Together, they will investigate the site of DART's impact, analyzing its effects thoroughly.
One interesting aspect of this mission includes the launch's coordination with SpaceX, which conducted the launch. The mission proceeded successfully after the company received authorization from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to continue operations, following a previous anomaly during another launch. This time, instead of the typical Falcon 9 return to Earth, the rocket used all its fuel for the Hera mission. This specific Falcon 9 booster, designated as 1061, had previously carried out numerous missions, including multiple Starlink satellite launches and astronaut missions.
The collaboration between NASA's DART mission and ESA's Hera mission emphasizes the global efforts to explore and understand asteroids, particularly those posing threats to Earth.
Flying to such faraway and difficult-to-reach targets isn’t just about exploration; it directly ties to planetary defense strategies. By studying the asteroid pair closely, scientists hope to refine the techniques used for potential future threats from asteroids heading toward Earth.
Looking forward to the end of 2026, when Hera arrives at her target, the scientific community is abuzz with anticipation. The data collected from this mission could lead to groundbreaking advancements not only for planetary science but also for safeguarding our planet from cosmic threats. With the long-term goal of asteroid impact deflection firmly in sight, Hera's findings could significantly contribute to the development and implementation of planetary defense strategies.
This grand adventure mirrors humanity’s age-old quest to explore the unknown and protect the planet from its natural enemies. While it may take years of data analysis and field research, missions like Hera are laying the groundwork for what could become pivotal knowledge for future generations.
