All space agencies are very interested in finding a way to deflect asteroids coming dangerously close to Earth. At the moment, no one has been discovered that poses a threat to our planet. But when it is discovered, there may not be enough time to research the best measures. It’s important to do your research beforehand. For this reason in 2021 DART missionwith the help of which it was possible to change the orbit of Dimorphos, a satellite orbiting the asteroid Didim. Now, 3 years later, the European Space Agency (ESA), in collaboration with NASA, is preparing to HERA launchthe second part of this important research program.
Essentially, HERA’s mission will be to study the effects of DART. It is true that several satellites have already managed to take some pictures. But HERA was carefully designed to produce the highest possible data quality.
HERA launch window opens todayOctober 7. At 16:52 Spanish peninsular time, the engines of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will start, which will launch it into space. However, if you can’t launch today, there will be no problems, since there will be opportunities until next October 27th.
Complete HERA equipment
Unlike DART, HERA’s role is no longer to alter the trajectory of an asteroid or satellite. Its function is to analyze the script left by DART after its impact. For this he has two cubesats who will be responsible for capturing images very close to Dimorphos. CubeSats are very small satellites, shaped like a 10cm cube, that were developed to provide cheaper access to space to researchers at universities and research centers with limited resources. However, they have proven so effective that even major space agencies such as NASA and ESA use them regularly.
In HERA’s case, it has a special CubeSat called Youth, which will achieve the first radiological study of the interior of the satellite.
HERA data about crater left by DART They will help you better understand what the impact was. This is necessary if you want to deflect asteroids using this tool in the future.
Other ways to deflect asteroids
Planetary Defense Science Teams are responsible for developing possible forms avoid exposure to near-Earth objects (NEO). None of the ones currently in these scientists’ crosshairs will pass close enough to have a dangerous impact on Earth. But what if in the future we discover one of them when it is about to collapse?
There is not much time to take action. So far, the only thing that has been tested on the ground is the deflection of an object’s trajectory when it collides with a spacecraft. This is exactly what DART did and what HERA will now consider. But there are other options in development. For example, recently a group of scientists from Sandia National Laboratoryin the USA explored the possibility of using controlled nuclear explosion to avoid a collision with an asteroid.
Obviously, this could easily get out of control, so this is just being studied. on a very small scale. In any case, with current research, it seems that the most feasible is what DART did.
How can we see HERA launch?
Hera will launch from Kenned Space Centerand from Florida. ESA will broadcast it live on its YouTube channel.
If this is not possible in the afternoon, nothing will happen. It will be many more moments before the launch window closes. Therefore, we will have to be careful. The second phase of our Armageddon is about to begin.
Source: Hiper Textual
