On March 12, 2025, the European Space Agency's (ESA) Hera spacecraft achieved a remarkable milestone by coming within just 5,000 kilometers of Mars and 1,000 kilometers of its moon Deimos.

This flyby marked a significant moment not only for Hera but also for space exploration as it utilized its scientific instruments for the first time on a mission beyond Earth and the Moon.

Launched on October 7, 2024, Hera is part of ESA's innovative Space Safety mission, focused on planetary defense techniques.

Its primary goal is to visit Dimorphos, an asteroid that gained notoriety in 2022 when NASA's DART spacecraft successfully impacted it to alter its orbit—a groundbreaking achievement in the realm of asteroid deflection.

During its flyby, Hera deftly navigated the gravitational pull of Mars, enabling it to adjust its trajectory toward Dimorphos, which is the first asteroid to have its orbit modified by human intervention.

Moving at an impressive 9 kilometers per second relative to Mars, Hera managed to capture detailed images of Deimos, providing a rare glimpse of the less-observed side of the moon.

ESA's Hera spacecraft operations manager, Caglayan Guerbuez, praised the meticulous planning carried out by the Mission Analysis and Flight Dynamics team in Germany.

Whose efforts were instrumental in fine-tuning the maneuver to enhance the scientific investigation of Deimos.

Hera utilized three advanced instruments during its flyby:

1. Asteroid Framing Camera: Captures visible light images for navigation and scientific exploration. 2. Hyperscout H Imager: A hyperspectral imager that observes a wide spectrum of colors—including 25 visible and near-infrared spectral bands—to analyze the mineral composition of surfaces. 3. Thermal Infrared Imager: Supplied by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), this instrument images at mid-infrared wavelengths to measure surface temperature and reveal vital physical properties, including surface roughness and porosity.

ESA’s mission scientist Michael Kueppers highlighted the successful deployment of these instruments.

Stating, 'This is the first time we have employed them on a distant moon like Deimos, showcasing their outstanding performance.'

Excitingly, Hera also carries additional instruments, including a laser altimeter and CubeSats, which will be activated once the spacecraft reaches Dimorphos.

As Hera continues its journey through the depths of space, it redefines our understanding of asteroid deflection techniques and opens new frontiers for planetary defense, potentially ensuring the safety of Earth from future asteroid threats.

Get ready for more groundbreaking discoveries as Hera approaches its next destination!