The Hera probe of the European Space Agency (ESA), whose goal is to reach the asteroid Dimorphos by December 2026, successfully lifted off from the SLC-40 ramp at Cape Canaveralusing a Falcon 9 launcher from the American company SpaceX. Fundamental for the development of planetary defense technologies, the Hera mission was created to investigate the effects of the impact of NASA’s DART mission which occurred in September 2022, when DART hit Dimorphosa small moon that orbits Didymos, changing its orbit. The LiciaCube cubesat of the Italian Space Agency (ASI) captured over 600 images of the impact, providing valuable data for studying the dynamics of asteroids.
Hera will also release two cubesats to perform close supporting observations. One of them, called Milani, will be built by Tayvak and will conduct multispectral observations of the surface, while the other, Juventas, will be the first to carry out radar detections of the interior of an asteroid. Furthermore, the National Institute for Astrophysics (INAF) is responsible for the VISTA (Volatile In Situ Thermogravimeter Analyser) instrument, designed to analyze the dust environment of the Didymos-Dimorphos system. This study is fundamental for understanding the cohesion of celestial bodies and evaluating deviation strategies. Numerous Italian scientific and technological instruments are present on board Hera, thanks to the collaboration of ASI, which confirms Italy’s role at the top of space research.
“Two years have passed since we received the sensational images documented by our LiciaCube satellite on Earth – declared Teodoro Valente, president of the Italian Space Agency – the impact of NASA’s Dart probe on an asteroid. Images that have allowed us to study and verify a new planetary protection strategy in case of danger deriving from asteroids and other objects. Today the ESA satellite Hera always begins its journey towards the same destination to analyze even more closely what happened to Dimorphos, hit then and diverted in its orbit around Didymos. The strategy of hunting potentially dangerous asteroids is strengthened with this important contribution from Europe, with Italy and ASI at the forefront, towards the consolidation of the technique chosen to be used in the event that a minor body should be detected in collision course with our Planet. Italian participation in the mission is the result, once again, of a virtuous collaboration between science and technology which confirms our country at the top in this field and which will provide Europe with a high capacity that will allow it to keep pace in the international arena”.
The contribution of the Italian industry was significant: Thales Alenia Space designed important equipment, including the transponder for deep space communications, while Leonardo supplied the photovoltaic panels, essential for powering the probe. Furthermore, OHB-Italia created the electric power system, and AVIO is responsible for the propulsion. Naples-based SME TSD Space developed Hera’s Spacecraft Monitoring Camera (SMC).