The image capturing debris from the surface of Dimorphos reveals the aftermath of NASA’s DART spacecraft’s intentional collision. This significant event is part of ESA’s Hera mission, which aims to advance planetary defense strategies. Recently, Hera showcased its impressive capabilities by passing two crucial tests, capturing images of two distant asteroids, (1126) Otero and (18805) Kellyday. These achievements highlight Hera’s ability to swiftly identify faint celestial objects, a vital skill for future planetary defense missions.
Launched on October 7, 2024, Hera is en route to the Didymos binary asteroid system, which comprises two asteroids: Dimorphos, a smaller body orbiting the larger Didymos. In 2022, NASA’s DART mission successfully altered the orbit of Dimorphos by crashing into it, marking a groundbreaking achievement in asteroid deflection.
Hera is scheduled to reach the Didymos system in late 2026 to conduct a detailed post-impact analysis of Dimorphos. This mission will provide critical data on the effectiveness of asteroid deflection techniques, aiding in future planetary defense planning. Before its arrival, ESA conducted performance tests on Hera’s camera under circumstances similar to those anticipated upon its initial approach to Didymos.
Using its Asteroid Framing Camera, Hera captured the rare A-type asteroid, Otero, from approximately three million kilometers away. Over a three-hour period, images were taken every six minutes, creating a time-lapse that differentiated the asteroid’s motion from nearby stars.
In the months following the capture of Otero, Hera’s imaging capabilities were tested once more in July 2025. It successfully captured Kellyday, which appeared significantly dimmer than Otero. Giacomo Moresco, the Flight Dynamics Engineer at ESA’s European Space Operations Centre, expressed optimism about the results of these rapid-response observations, noting that Hera is well-equipped for its mission at Didymos.
These developments underline the readiness and effectiveness of Hera as it continues its journey towards safeguarding our planet through innovative space exploration and defense technologies.
