ESA's Hera spacecraft begins close study of Didymos and Dimorphos

The European Space Agency's Hera spacecraft has begun close inspections of the binary asteroid system Didymos and Dimorphos, following NASA's 2022 DART impact test.

Mission status

The European Space Agency announced that Hera is now studying Didymos and its moonlet Dimorphos from just 25 kilometers to 30 kilometers away. Next month, the spacecraft will venture even closer, to just 20 kilometers away.

NASA's DART spacecraft deliberately slammed into Dimorphos in 2022 to test whether such a defensive move might help save Earth from a killer space rock one day. The impact shortened the moonlet's orbit around Didymos and nudged it into a slightly different path around the sun.

Spacecraft and instruments

Hera is carrying 25 science instruments as well as a pair of shoebox-sized Cubesats to survey Dimorphos even more closely and attempt to land on it. ESA officials consider this a "crash site investigation" worthy of its finest robotic detective.

The DART spacecraft sent rubble and even boulders flying off Dimorphos, providing an extra kick to the impact's momentum. The debris trail extended thousands of miles (more than 10,000 kilometres) into space for months. Some of that debris could still be in the vicinity, according to scientists.

Asteroid sizes

Dimorphos is an estimated 500 feet (151 meters) in diameter. Didymos is roughly 2,560 feet (780 meters) in diameter.

Why it matters

Understanding how to alter asteroid orbits is essential for protecting Earth from potential asteroid threats. Investigating the consequences of the DART impact will improve knowledge of how small celestial bodies respond to external forces and aid in refining methods to avert possible hazards.

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Sources

• sciencenews.org: Europe’s Hera mission is ready to double down on asteroid science
• inkorr.com: Hera begins detailed study of asteroid Dimorph collision aftermath
• aol.co.uk: Europe's Hera spacecraft begins close inspections of asteroid in planetary defence mission - AOL

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.