ESA's Hera Mission

The European Space Agency's Hera mission aims to study the binary asteroid system Didymos and its moonlet Dimorphos. Scheduled for launch in 2024, Hera will assess how effectively the recent NASA DART mission altered Dimorphos's orbit through a kinetic impact. By gathering data on the physical and chemical properties of both asteroids, Hera will enhance our understanding of asteroid collisions and planetary defense strategies. The mission represents an important step in protecting Earth from potential asteroid threats and advancing our knowledge of celestial bodies.