@ESA_Hera

Part of the first test of asteroid deflection. Launched 7 October 2024 on a mission to the binary asteroid system Didymos. #HeraMission #PlanetaryDefence

esa.int/hera
Joined June 2023
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"Are we there yet?"🛰️ 🪨 "NEARLY!" 📽️Watch the latest episode of our animated Incredible Adventure of Hera series: The Space Detectives Arrive! esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Video…
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Hera’s second braking manoeuvre yesterday proved successful, reducing the spacecraft’s velocity relative to the Didymos and Dimorphos system by 70 m/s from a distance of 2300 km away. Some 90% of the 31-minute thruster firing took place in the early morning, followed by a cross-check of performance, with the remaining 10% occurring that afternoon. Hera is now moving at 20 m/s relative to the asteroids; a trio of smaller ‘transition’ manoeuvres this coming week will reduce Hera’s relative velocity down to near zero. hera.esa.int/
Hera spacecraft flying through space

ALT Hera spacecraft flying through space

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Check out the BBC @ScienceFocus Magazine guide to ESA's Space Safety programme - focused on safeguarding our planet against threats from space - which includes Hera! sciencefocus.com/space/aster…

The weird, high-stakes plan to save Earth from a world-ending asteroid | BBC Science Focus Magazine

When asteroids come tearing towards Earth, we rely on NASA's planetary defence team to save us from disaster.

sciencefocus.com
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Hera’s initial 93-minute braking manoeuvre on Thursday morning is confirmed to have performed within required parameters; the follow-up braking manoeuvre is scheduled for Thursday 22 October. Want to know more? Ask our Hera Space Companion hera.esa.int/
Hera firing thrusters

ALT Hera firing thrusters

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Next week's kid-oriented Science Days at Germany's @europa_park include talks on Hera - & a chance to experience the mission in VR - as well as an appearance by ESA astronaut @Astro_Alex (in 🇩🇪 language). Media welcome! esa.int/Newsroom/Press_Relea…
Europa Park Science Days illustration with science superhero cartoons

ALT Europa Park Science Days illustration with science superhero cartoons

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Read about Hera's forthcoming arrival at the Dimorphos asteroid in this space.com feature: space.com/space-exploration/…
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Hera imagery of Deimos gathered during last year's flyby is helping to guide MMX observations - godspeed!
ESA Science
@esascienceOct 13
📣Launch announcement The Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) mission is set to launch on a H3 rocket from the Tanegashima Space Center at 21:41 CEST on 19 October 2026 👉esa.int/Science_Exploration/… 1/4
Infographic explaining the MMX mission (part 1) in the style of a comic strip. At the top we see several logos: ESA, JAXA, NASA, DLR and CNES. Below there are three panels showing a timeline of the mission: October 2026 launch, August 2027 arrival at Mars, September 2027 arrival at Phobos. Two other panels show the mission observing Phobos from orbit and scouting for a landing site for the rover and a sample retrieval sites, and the release of the Idefix rover.

ALT Infographic explaining the MMX mission (part 1) in the style of a comic strip. At the top we see several logos: ESA, JAXA, NASA, DLR and CNES. Below there are three panels showing a timeline of the mission: October 2026 launch, August 2027 arrival at Mars, September 2027 arrival at Phobos. Two other panels show the mission observing Phobos from orbit and scouting for a landing site for the rover and a sample retrieval sites, and the release of the Idefix rover.

Infographic explaining the MMX mission (part 2) in the style of a comic strip. Several panels show the mission collecting samples from Phobos, the return module separating from the exploration module, dropping a capsule over Australia and a scientist holding the samples. A last panel lists the scientific questions scientists hope to answer using the samples: 'Where did Mars's moons come from?', 'What can they tell us about habitability in the Solar System?', and 'How has Mars and its environment changed over time?'.

ALT Infographic explaining the MMX mission (part 2) in the style of a comic strip. Several panels show the mission collecting samples from Phobos, the return module separating from the exploration module, dropping a capsule over Australia and a scientist holding the samples. A last panel lists the scientific questions scientists hope to answer using the samples: 'Where did Mars's moons come from?', 'What can they tell us about habitability in the Solar System?', and 'How has Mars and its environment changed over time?'.

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Join the Hera Asteroid Detectives during the school break at #ESTEC in 🇳🇱's visitor centre @Spaceexpo - and solve an asteroid mystery! This Hera-based interactive presentation is included in your main ticket space-expo.nl/en/agenda/herf…

Asteroid Detectives: Solve the space mystery! | Agenda | Space Expo Noordwijk

Something has happened on an asteroid. An impact has left its mark, but no one knows exactly who is responsible. Can you solve the mystery?

space-expo.nl
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Imagine throwing a ball up into the sky so hard & fast it just keeps going - that's our Hera mission, now nearing its target asteroids across millions of km of space. 🛰️ 🪨 But how does Hera know where it is & where it needs to go? That's the task of ESA's Flight Dynamics team esa.int/Space_Safety/Hera/Fi…
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ESA's Hera mission retweeted
ESA Operations
@esaoperationsOct 7
🚨🚨🚨On its second birthday in space, ESA's Hera mission for planetary defence has spotted its asteroid destination for the first time, from an approximate distance of 236 500 km away! The Didymos system is actually two asteroids, seen as a single pixel for now esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Image…
A boxed pixel in a starfield with a close up bottom right

ALT A boxed pixel in a starfield with a close up bottom right

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Launched two years ago today, ESA's Hera mission for planetary defence is preparing for its single most challenging activity since lift-off: the sustained braking manoeuvre allowing it to approach its target asteroids: esa.int/Space_Safety/Hera/Br…
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& find out more about the essential work of ESA's Flight Dynamics team - Europe's navigators of space! 👉esa.int/Space_Safety/Hera/Fi…
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ESA's Hera mission retweeted
ESA Operations
@esaoperationsOct 7
🎂Happy birthday Hera🛰️! ESA’s asteroid mission for planetary defence lifted off two years ago today! 📽️But where is Hera about to arrive at, and how might its discoveries one day help save planet Earth...?
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Celebrate Hera's 2nd birthday in space online with mission principal investigator Patrick Michel at sciencekind.com at 1830 CEST (1730 UK BST) this evening - reserve your virtual seat now!
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Currently speeding through space at 12 km/s, ESA’s Hera spacecraft is due to reach its target Dimorphos asteroid this November. But if an astronaut were magically teleported onto Hera, what would they see & what would it happen if they let themself fall? esa.int/Space_Safety/Hera/A_…
AI image of hypothetical astronaut looking at Hera's target asteroids

ALT AI image of hypothetical astronaut looking at Hera's target asteroids

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Any questions? You can ask our Hera Space Companion right now - our AI fed with approved operational, scientific and technical knowledge, making ESA’s first planetary defence mission accessible to everyone! hera.esa.int
Hera Space Companion AI front page

ALT Hera Space Companion AI front page

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Meet a key member of our Hera asteroid mission team: the Hera Space Companion, not just an AI chatbot but a dynamic communication platform, ready to answer all your questions! hera.esa.int/
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