Hera’s First Year in Space

Journey to Didymos Asteroid System: A Year Later | Europe's Hera Mission

Journey to Didymos Asteroid System: A Year Later | Europe's Hera MissionWhat a difference a year makes! Today Hera’s asteroid mission for planetary defense is cruising through deep space on the far side of the Sun, headed to its final destination: the Didymos binary asteroid system. However, a year ago, on October 7, 2024, it was uncertain if the mission was ever going to take off at all.Its launcher was grounded due to a launch anomaly and Hurr…

Hera’s first year in space

00:07:47 What a difference a year makes! Today Hera’s asteroid mission for planetary defence is cruising through deep space on the far side of the Sun, headed to its final destination: the Didymos binary asteroid system. But a year ago, on 7 October 2024, it was unsure if the mission was ever going to take off at all.Its launcher was grounded due to a launch anomaly and Hurricane Milton was closing on Cape Canaveral! The mission needed to li…