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ESA’s Hera Mission Inspects Asteroid Struck In 2022 Planetary Defense Test

NASA’s DART spacecraft deliberately struck Dimorphos in September 2022 as a planetary defence test, shortening its orbital period by approximately 33 minutes.

,   and  TIPP Staff
2 min read
Europe's Hera spacecraft begins close inspections of an asteroid rammed by NASA in a 2022 test. Pic via(@CTVNews)

The European Space Agency’s Hera spacecraft has captured separate images of the Didymos and Dimorphos asteroids for the first time, beginning a closer investigation of the system 197 million kilometres from Earth.

NASA’s DART spacecraft deliberately struck Dimorphos in September 2022 as a planetary defence test, shortening its orbital period by approximately 33 minutes.

The larger Didymos measures about 780 metres across, while Dimorphos is approximately 151 metres wide. Hera captured its initial image from 1,280 kilometres away.

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The spacecraft will investigate the impact site using two shoebox-sized CubeSats, Milani and Juventas. They will conduct mineralogical analysis and ground-penetrating radar surveys to examine the asteroid’s subsurface structure.

The mission aims to improve scientific understanding of asteroid impacts and strengthen future planetary defence efforts.

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