SpaceX successfully launches Hera, the first European planetary defense mission

As the clock showed 4:52 p.m. in Spain, SpaceX’s Falcon 9 responsible for launching the Hera mission took off as planned for space, despite the threat of bad weather caused by Hurricane Helena. This expedition is part of a much larger program, which aims to study the human ability to deflect asteroids with the potential to endanger life on Earth.

Under the name AIDA (Asteroid Impact and Deflection Assessment), NASA and ESA intend check the effectiveness of his formula of crashing a spaceship at the heart of a potentially threatening asteroid. DART was in charge of the first part of the mission on November 26, 2022, when this US Space Administration device successfully collided with the asteroid Dimorphos.

Dimorphos and Didymos form a binary system of asteroids – the former is actually a sort of moon of the latter – that space agencies have chosen as a testing ground for their technology. With the DART target confirmed, ESA will position the Hera probe closest human spacecraft to a double asteroid. It will also be the first time that a space mission explores a small body using three satellites at the same time and radar technology is used to achieve this.

Hera has a rectangular format with dimensions similar to a van. It will use solar panels on its two 5-meter-long articulated wings to receive the energy necessary to power the on-board instruments and, Inside, it accommodates two nanosatellites —called Juventas and Milani—equipped with measuring instruments.

Concerning the sensors that Hera will equip, the European Space Agency indicates that it has a laser altimeter, cameras for observation in the visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum, a hyperspectral image generator to obtain data on the composition of asteroids and other thermal infrared images.

The forecasts of flight engineers estimate that Hera will reach the two-asteroid system in December 2026where you will spend 6 months studying the celestial bodies. However, the first interesting scientific data will be sent to Earth in mid-March 2025, when it is expected that ESA will be able to calibrate the probe’s instruments during its flyby to Mars where, in addition to taking advantage of its field gravitational to propel itself, you will obtain images of the planet and its moon Deimos.

Once Hera reaches the Didymos system, the probe will enter orbit to carry out a complete high-resolution visual, laser and radio x-ray of Dimorphos. It will also prepare detailed maps of its surface and interior structure, with a solution of approximately one meter. According to the latest research from NASA and ESA, it is very likely that the impact of DART caused the near disintegration of the study subject.

Spanish participation

Hera has significant participation from Spanish companies. GMV was responsible for creating the GNC (acronym for Guidance, Navigation and Control) system for the trajectory and pointing of the probe. The integrated system “will demonstrate the viability of completely autonomously perform complex operations near low-gravity bodies at a great distance from Earth,” Mariella Graziano, director of business strategy and development for science, exploration and transportation of space systems at GMV, told EL ESPAÑOL-Omicrono.

They developed “an innovative autonomous system that takes into account the difficulties presented in approach and navigation operations due to the deep space communications delaythe irregular features of asteroids and the uncertainty of the unexplored environment. »

On the other hand, Susana Infante, Hera project manager at Thales Alenia Space, explains how, from the Madrid town of Tres Cantos, they have “contributed to the Hera communication system”. This is the technology that provides the information needed to “control the ship throughout the mission, at distances of up to hundreds of millions of kilometers.” Specifically, 195 million kilometers separate Earth from Didymos.

In addition, two other Spanish companies contributed decisively to the mission. This is Sener, specialist in innovative engineering and technological solutions in different markets, responsible for the low gain antenna or LGA (Low gain antenna) by Hera. Also participating was Alter, which was responsible for carrying out vibration, shock, TVAC and electromagnetic compatibility tests for different image processor models, and carried out the engineering, testing and supply of electronic components embarked.