ESA's Hera Mission Begins its Journey

The European Space Agency's (ESA) Hera mission is embarking on a groundbreaking journey for planetary defense, and its departure from Earth came with a heartfelt farewell sighting of our Moon. In a stunning sequence of thermal infrared images, Hera captured the beauty of our celestial companions as it ventured further into space. As the spacecraft pulled away from Earth, the lunar disc, initially appearing as a half Moon, transformed into a full Moon—a breathtaking celestial dance for the mission that aims to protect our planet.

Thermal Infrared Imaging

These remarkable images were taken by Hera's Thermal Infrared Imager (TIRI), a sophisticated instrument provided by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). TIRI’s observations showcase not only the Moon but also provide critical data about the Earth-Moon system from a unique perspective. The spacecraft began its imaging on October 10, capturing its first glimpse at a distance of around 1.4 million kilometers, and recorded its final image five days later, at approximately 3.8 million kilometers away.

Mission Objectives

Launched on October 7, Hera is ESA’s inaugural mission dedicated to planetary defense. Its primary objective is to gather invaluable data from Dimorphos, an asteroid that is particularly significant due to its orbit alteration caused by NASA’s DART mission in 2022. This previous mission successfully impacted Dimorphos to study the feasibility of asteroid deflection as a means of planetary protection.

Exploring Dimorphos

Hera will delve into the properties of Dimorphos, utilizing TIRI, which will analyze the asteroid's surface temperature in the mid-infrared spectrum. This detailed thermal mapping will shed light on the 'thermal inertia' across various regions of the asteroid, revealing essential information about its surface roughness, particle size distribution, and porosity. Such data is crucial not only for understanding how to mitigate potential asteroid threats but also for paving the way for future planetary defense strategies.

Looking Ahead

As Hera embarks on this exciting exploration, the space community eagerly anticipates the insights it will uncover about asteroid deflection, potentially making it a reliable and repeatable method of safeguarding Earth from cosmic threats.

Stay tuned as we follow Hera’s journey and uncover the secrets of Dimorphos, as well as the vital information that could one day protect our planet from asteroid impacts!