ESA Hera probe captures images of asteroid Dimorphos
The European Space Agency's Hera probe has successfully imaged the asteroid Dimorphos, marking its approach to the site of a 2022 NASA collision test.
Launched in October 2024, the Hera spacecraft is nearing the Didymos asteroid system, located approximately 197 million kilometers from Earth. On October 18, the probe captured images from a distance of 1,280 kilometers, successfully distinguishing the smaller asteroid Dimorphos from its parent body for the first time.
The mission follows NASA’s 2022 Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART), which intentionally collided with Dimorphos to alter its orbit. Hera’s primary objective is to investigate the aftermath of this impact, providing researchers with data on the asteroid's structure and the long-term effects of the collision. ESA project scientist Michael Kueppers noted that the probe is now identifying the object with increasing clarity.
Hera carries 12 scientific instruments and two small CubeSats designed for close-range observation and potential landing attempts. According to mission manager Ian Carnelli, detailed imagery is expected to be released on November 25 as the probe reaches its final orbital insertion.