On October 6, 2024, the European Space Agency (ESA) is preparing to launch its Hera mission, aimed at studying the asteroid Dimorphos, which was impacted by NASA's Dart probe two years ago. The mission will provide crucial data to enhance Earth's planetary defense strategies against potential asteroid threats.
Hera is scheduled for launch at 10:52 AM local time from Cape Canaveral, Florida, aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. If successful, it will pass Mars in March 2025 and reach Dimorphos, located over 110 million miles from Earth, by December 2026.
Dimorphos, a 150-meter-wide asteroid, orbits a larger body, Didymos (780 meters). In September 2022, NASA's Dart collided with Dimorphos at 14,000 mph, altering its orbit significantly. This successful planetary defense test requires further investigation to understand the impact's effects and improve future asteroid deflection techniques.
Hera will measure Dimorphos's size, shape, mass, and orbit, providing insights into how effectively momentum was transferred during the impact. It will also deploy two shoebox-sized cubesats to map the surface and analyze the asteroid's internal structure.
Scientists aim to resolve questions raised by the Dart mission, particularly why the orbital change was more substantial than expected. Understanding Dimorphos's internal structure is vital for assessing the potential risks posed by similar asteroids in the future.
With over 1,600 near-Earth asteroids on ESA's risk list, the focus is on smaller bodies that could threaten cities or countries. Data from Hera will help researchers determine which asteroids can be deflected and which may require more drastic measures to protect Earth.