Astronomy and Space

Hera (space mission)

Hera is the first planetary defence spacecraft developed by the European Space Agency (ESA). Its primary mission objective is to study the Didymos binary asteroid system that was impacted in 2022 by NASA's DART spacecraft and contribute to validation of the kinetic impact method to deviate a near-Earth asteroid from a colliding trajectory with Earth. Hera has a mass of 1,128 kg (2,487 lb) and carries a payload of cameras, an altimeter, and a spectrometer. It is carrying two small CubeSat spacecraft, called Milani and Juventas. The spacecraft was launched on 7 October 2024 by Falcon 9. Hera is the first mission of ESA's Space Safety Programme.

Also on this shelf

See also

• ▸69 Virginis
• ▸Dog Island Lighthouse
• ▸ALOS-2

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