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Asteroids pose a serious threat to Earth. The ESA Hera mission aims to provide answers to questions about planetary defense and begins its three-year launch window on October 7. Germany plays a central role in this mission.
Significance of Mission Hera
The European Space Agency (ESA) will launch the Hera mission on October 7th to study the asteroids Didymos and Dimorphos. This mission is an important step toward planetary defense. The project is coordinated by the German Aerospace Center (DLR), and Germany is the largest contributor. Hera will launch into space on a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida, and after a two-year journey, will spend six months studying the asteroids.
Germany’s technological participation
Germany is providing significant resources and technology for the Hera mission. The German Aerospace Center (DLR), supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection (BMWK), is coordinating ESA’s contributions. The Hera spacecraft was developed and built by OHB in Bremen. An innovative antenna “Made in Germany” and two cameras from Jena are crucial for data transmission and image acquisition of the asteroids. These contributions underscore Germany’s high technological level and innovative strength in the space sector.
Risks from asteroid impacts
Asteroid impacts pose a potential threat to Earth, as history shows. One example is the impact of an asteroid in Mexico 66 million years ago, which caused the extinction of the dinosaurs. Dr. Walther Pelzer, DLR Executive Board Member and Director General of the German Space Agency, emphasizes the importance of the Hera mission for planetary defense and cooperation with international space agencies. The impact of a larger celestial body could threaten ocean coasts or continents and have serious consequences for humanity.
Scientific perspectives of the Hera mission
The Hera mission offers a unique opportunity to collect valuable data on asteroids. Dr. Manuel Metz, Hera project manager at the German Space Agency, points to the Chelyabinsk event in 2013, which injured 1,500 people. This mission is intended to help prevent future disasters. Dr. Stephan Ulamec of the DLR’s Space Operations and Astronaut Training Facility explains that the consequences of a major impact could be existential. The data collected by Hera will contribute significantly to understanding and mitigating asteroids.
The German Space Agency (DLR) is a central institution for the development and coordination of German space activities. With headquarters in Cologne and Berlin, and major projects in Bremen, DLR plays a leading role in scientific research and technological innovation. Its goal is to secure Germany’s position as a leading location in international space exploration.
Preparing to Defend Against Near-Earth Objects: Europe’s Hera Mission
None of the known near-Earth objects with a diameter of more than 100 meters is currently on a collision course with Earth. However, to prepare for future threats, NASA and ESA are collaborating in the Asteroid Impact & Deflection Assessment (AIDA) collaboration.
DART mission reaches Dimorphos
NASA’s DART (Double Asteroid Redirection Test) mission targeted the double asteroid Didymos and its moon Dimorphos. The DART probe impacted Dimorphos on September 26, 2022, at a speed of over six kilometers per second. Telemetry measurements showed that Dimorphos’ orbital period had been shortened by 33 minutes, far exceeding expectations.
Hera mission follows
ESA’s Hera mission will now be launched to closely study the effects of the DART impact. The probe is equipped with twelve measuring instruments, including two Asteroid Framing Cameras. These cameras will not only contribute to the probe’s navigation but will also be used to precisely study the asteroids.
Creation of a digital terrain model
The Hera science team will use the camera images to create a digital terrain model of the asteroids. On Dimorphos, they will study changes caused by the DART impact. Questions the team hopes to answer include: Did a crater form on Dimorphos? Was the entire asteroid reshaped? And was the surface of Didymos also impacted by ejecta?
Scientific investigation and future missions
The results of these studies will form the basis for the development of further technologies for the defense of near-Earth objects. The cooperation between NASA and ESA is intended to ensure that humanity is well prepared to face future threats from space and to further develop planetary defense strategies.
The German Aerospace Center (DLR) supports these and other missions to explore and defend against near-Earth objects. The DLR Institute of Planetary Research, headed by Dr. Jean-Baptiste Vincent, plays a central role, particularly through the development and use of the Asteroid Framing Cameras.
CubeSats land on Dimorphos: A new milestone
ESA’s Hera mission is carrying two CubeSats, Juventas and Milani, to study the asteroid Dimorphos in detail. These small satellites will land on Dimorphos to analyze its mass and surface, which is crucial for future planetary deflection missions.
CubeSats on Dimorphos
ESA’s Hera mission carries the shoebox-sized CubeSats Juventas and Milani. These minisatellites will observe Dimorphos at close range and land on the asteroid during the final phase of the mission. The goal is to measure its surface, internal structure, and gravity. The data will be used, in particular, to determine Dimorphos’s exact mass to assess the effectiveness of the DART mission in deflecting the asteroid. The insights gained will be used to calculate future planetary deflection missions, should asteroids be on a collision course with Earth.
Significance for asteroid research
The data collected by Juventas and Milani represent another milestone in asteroid research. Scientists hope to gain deeper insights into the composition of celestial bodies like Dimorphos. Precisely determining their mass and studying their structure are crucial for understanding asteroids and their potential threat to Earth. In the long term, this knowledge should contribute to better assessing potential collision risks and developing appropriate protective measures.
German participation in the mission
Germany is one of the key players in this joint European project, contributing approximately 130 million euros to the mission. The Hera probe was developed and built by OHB SE in Bremen. A special antenna made of carbon fiber-reinforced plastic was supplied by the Munich-based company HPS. The Asteroid Framing Cameras, which provide important images, were manufactured by Jena-Optronik. The Technical University of Dresden played a key role in developing the radar experiment for Juventas. German scientists are also represented on the Hera science team and are working on analyzing the collected data.
Coordination and financing
The German Space Agency at DLR coordinates the German contributions to the Hera mission with funding from the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection (BMWK). This coordinated effort ensures that German technology and research make a significant contribution to global asteroid research and potential planetary defense. The financial resources and scientific findings are essential for the implementation and success of this highly ambitious mission.
The ESA Hera mission, supported by international partners, is a major project for the exploration and protection of our planet. With German participation and cutting-edge technology, this mission aims to gain deeper insights into celestial bodies such as Dimorphos and develop potential planetary defense measures. The work of OHB SE, HPS, Jena-Optronik, and TU Dresden underscores Germany’s role in space research.
