HERA

HERA is a collaborative mission between NASA and the European Space Agency to explore the Didymos asteroid system, which includes the primary asteroid Didymos and its smaller moon Dimorphos. The mission involves the DART spacecraft, which was launched in 2021 and intentionally crashed into Dimorphos to test asteroid deflection techniques, and the HERA spacecraft, which will be launched in 2024 to study the aftermath of the collision. The HERA mission will provide valuable insights into the effects of asteroid deflection and the composition of the Didymos asteroid system, with contributions from scientists at University of Colorado Boulder, Johns Hopkins University, and the German Aerospace Center.

Introduction

The HERA mission is part of a broader effort to develop strategies for preventing asteroid impacts, which is a concern for NASA, the European Space Agency, and other space agencies around the world, including the Canadian Space Agency and the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency. The mission builds on previous asteroid exploration missions, such as NEAR Shoemaker and Hayabusa, which were launched by NASA and the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency, respectively. The HERA mission will also provide opportunities for collaboration with other space agencies, including the Russian Federal Space Agency and the Chinese National Space Administration, as well as with institutions like the University of Arizona and the California Institute of Technology.

History

The concept for the HERA mission was developed in the early 2010s, with input from scientists at University of California, Los Angeles, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and the European Southern Observatory. The mission was formally approved in 2019, with NASA and the European Space Agency agreeing to collaborate on the project. The HERA spacecraft is being built by a team of engineers at Thales Alenia Space, with contributions from scientists at University of Oxford and the Australian National University. The mission has also received support from the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space and the International Astronomical Union.

Mission_Objectives

The primary objective of the HERA mission is to study the effects of the DART spacecraft's collision with Dimorphos, which was observed by telescopes at Mauna Kea Observatory and the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array. The HERA spacecraft will conduct a thorough survey of the Didymos asteroid system, including the primary asteroid Didymos and its smaller moon Dimorphos, using instruments developed at University of California, Berkeley and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The mission will also provide opportunities for scientists at Harvard University and the University of Chicago to study the composition and geology of the asteroids, with potential implications for our understanding of the Solar System and the formation of planets like Earth and Mars.

Spacecraft_Design

The HERA spacecraft is designed to be a robust and reliable platform for conducting scientific experiments in deep space, with a design similar to that of the Rosetta spacecraft, which was launched by the European Space Agency in 2004. The spacecraft is equipped with a range of instruments, including cameras developed at University of Arizona and spectrometers built at University of Colorado Boulder. The spacecraft will also carry a laser altimeter developed at MIT and a radio science experiment designed at University of California, Los Angeles. The HERA spacecraft will be launched on an Ariane 6 rocket from the Guiana Space Centre, which is operated by the European Space Agency and the Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales.

Launch_and_Operation

The HERA spacecraft is scheduled to be launched in 2024, with a planned arrival at the Didymos asteroid system in 2026. The spacecraft will be operated by a team of engineers at the European Space Operations Centre, with support from scientists at University of Oxford and the Australian National University. The mission will involve a series of complex maneuvers, including a gravity assist flyby of Earth and a rendezvous with the Didymos asteroid system, which will be observed by telescopes at Mauna Kea Observatory and the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array. The HERA spacecraft will also conduct a series of orbital adjustments to ensure a stable and precise orbit around the asteroids, with contributions from scientists at Harvard University and the University of Chicago.

Scientific_Results

The HERA mission is expected to provide a wealth of new scientific information about the Didymos asteroid system, including its composition, geology, and orbital dynamics. The mission will also provide valuable insights into the effects of asteroid deflection, which is a critical area of research for NASA, the European Space Agency, and other space agencies around the world, including the Canadian Space Agency and the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency. The scientific results from the HERA mission will be published in leading scientific journals, such as The Astronomical Journal and Nature, and will be presented at conferences like the International Astronomical Union General Assembly and the American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting. The mission will also provide opportunities for collaboration with other space agencies, including the Russian Federal Space Agency and the Chinese National Space Administration, as well as with institutions like the University of Arizona and the California Institute of Technology.