SpaceX is gearing up to launch Europe's Hera asteroid probe. The challenging mission will seek to explore the Didymos binary asteroid system and its moonlet Dimorphos, previously seen by NASA's DART spacecraft.
What is Didymos and Dimorphos?
Didymos is a near-Earth asteroid, measuring about 780 meters in diameter which orbits the sun every 2.5 years. The mission target has a smaller moonlet, Dimorphos, which is about 160 meters in diameter.
Together, they form an asteroid binary system, where Dimorphos orbits around Didymos.
What is Hera's mission?
The "Hera" is short for "Hera Asteroid Mission," an exploration by the European Space Agency set to evaluate the effectiveness of asteroid deflection methods. Last year, NASA's DART spacecraft collided with Dimorphos with the intent of altering its orbit around Didymos.
Hera will be measuring the consequence of the experiment, a basic test for future asteroid deflection missions.
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The main aim of this mission is that upon arrival at Dimorphos in late 2026, Hera will embark on a critical mission to uncover vital insights.
The primary goals of Hera will be to measure the dimensions and height of the crater formed by the impact of NASA's DART spacecraft and analyse the effectiveness of the impact. On top of that, it will deploy two cubesats to observe the interior composition of Dimorphos, mineral constituents on its surface, and gravity.
Hera asteroid probe launch details
The SpaceX launch is slated for today, October 7, with a launch window extending to October 27. The mission takes off from Florida, and SpaceX's reliable Falcon 9 rocket propels Hera to its target.
The Hera spacecraft and its two partner cubsats, named Milani and Juventas, are set to launch atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket at 10:52am EDT (1452 GMT) from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Florida.
How to watch Hera launch mission live?
Watch the historic SpaceX launch of Europe's Hera asteroid probe live today on October 7, on the European Space Agency (ESA) YouTube channel. Here is the link to watch the mission live: