Hera Spacecraft Embarks on Mission to Study Asteroid Redirected by NASA in 2022

A spacecraft named Hera has successfully launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida, embarking on a critical mission to study the asteroid Dimorphos, which was intentionally redirected by NASA in 2022. The launch occurred at 10:52 local time (15:52 BST) on Monday, marking a significant step in international efforts to explore methods of preventing potential asteroid threats to Earth. Led by the European Space Agency (ESA), the Hera mission is designed to gather important data on Dimorphos, located roughly seven million miles away, with an expected arrival in December 2026.

Understanding Asteroid Redirection

Dimorphos, a small moon measuring 160 meters in diameter, orbits the larger asteroid Didymos. In 2022, NASA’s DART (Double Asteroid Redirection Test) mission successfully altered Dimorphos’s trajectory by intentionally colliding with it. This pioneering test shifted the asteroid’s course by a few meters, demonstrating that asteroid redirection is possible. Though Dimorphos was not a threat to Earth, the test provided essential insights into how such techniques could be used to deflect dangerous asteroids in the future.

Objectives of the Hera Mission

Once Hera reaches Dimorphos in 2026, it will conduct a detailed analysis of the impact crater caused by the DART collision. Additionally, the spacecraft will deploy two cube-shaped probes to investigate the asteroid’s composition and mass. According to Dr. Naomi Murdoch from ESA, understanding the physical properties of asteroids, such as their internal composition, is crucial for improving future asteroid deflection methods.

The Importance of Asteroid Research

While there is currently no immediate danger of a massive asteroid impact similar to the one that caused the dinosaur extinction, smaller asteroids do pose a potential threat. For instance, in 2013, a house-sized asteroid exploded over Chelyabinsk, Russia, injuring more than 1,600 people. Incidents like this underscore the importance of continuing research into asteroid detection and redirection strategies to protect Earth from future impacts.

The Hera mission will play a vital role in advancing our understanding of asteroid behavior and improving the tools we have to mitigate potential asteroid collisions.