A spacecraft recently took off to explore a cosmic collision site, starting a two-year journey to an asteroid struck by NASA two years ago. The European Space Agency’s Hera spacecraft aims to gather crucial data for planetary defense in case of a future threat to Earth.
The mission follows the successful 2022 crash test with NASA’s Dart spacecraft demonstrating the ability to deflect a dangerous rock heading towards Earth. Hera’s investigations will provide insight into the impact and help plan future deflection missions if needed.
Carrying advanced instruments, Hera aims to orbit the moonlet Dimorphos, in a system with the asteroid Didymos, 195 million kilometres away from Earth. The mission will provide critical data on the composition and orbit of the asteroids.
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