ESA's Hera Mission to Launch for Asteroid Investigation

The mission will analyze the aftermath of NASA's DART impact on Dimorphos to enhance Earth's planetary defense strategies.

Hera is set to launch on October 7 from Cape Canaveral aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, with a mission to study the asteroid Dimorphos.
The mission aims to assess the impact of NASA's 2022 DART mission, which successfully altered Dimorphos's orbit.
Hera will carry two CubeSats, Juventas and Milani, to gather detailed data on the asteroid's mass, structure, and composition.
ESA's mission will improve understanding of asteroid deflection techniques and their application to potential future threats.
The mission will also demonstrate new technologies for autonomous navigation and close-proximity operations in space.