The European Space Agency (ESA) is preparing to launch the Hera probe, bound for the asteroid Demorphos, the target of NASA's DART mission in 2022. It has flagged an intentional DART collision with the asteroid A milestone in planetary defensesHera has a critical mission to investigate the effects of this impact and collect important data to improve defense strategies against future asteroid threats.

“It's a series of amazing moments,” he said. Paolo MartinoThe Hera mission's chief engineer told The Guardian that the launch, scheduled for Monday aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, is just the beginning. The first step on this epic journey. The probe will pass by Mars in 2025 and reach Dimorphos in December 2026.

Named after the Greek goddess of marriage, Hera will be tasked with analyzing in detail the case of Dimorphos, a terrestrial asteroid. Width 150 metres Which revolves around a larger body called Didymos. The DART collision dramatically changed Dimorphos' orbit, but there are still many mysteries to be solved.

He said: “Dart was able to change the orbit of Dimorphos very efficiently, even beyond expectations, and now scientists need to know in detail what happened and what kind of effects the collision had on the asteroid.” Martino.

“Amazing success”

I'll take Hera on board Advanced tools This will allow us to map the surface of dimorphos, measure its mass and composition, and even investigate its internal structure. Two smaller probes, called cubesats, will be launched by Hera to make more detailed observations and possibly land on the asteroid's surface.

“Dart's mission was A Amazing success “As evidence of asteroid deflection technology, but as a scientific experiment that raised as many questions as it provided answers,” the professor said. Gareth Collinsmember of the Hera scientific team.

According to The Guardian, one of the biggest mysteries is how the DART collision managed to change Dimorphos' orbit so much. Scientists believe the asteroid's internal structure, possibly made up of a pile of rubble, may be the case Amplify the effects of influence.

The data collected by Hera will be crucial to improving and developing asteroid impact simulation models The most effective strategies To avoid future threats. He added: “If we face a real threat in the future, we will be in a position to choose the best approach.” Martino.