Overview

SpaceX is gearing up for an exciting launch on Monday, October 7th, when it will send Europe’s Hera spacecraft toward the asteroid Dimorphos for a crucial post-impact evaluation.

This milestone event will provide insight into a groundbreaking planetary defense experiment and you can catch the entire launch live!

The Hera Mission

The European Space Agency’s Hera mission aims to visit Dimorphos, the asteroid that underwent a significant orbital shift after being struck by NASA’s DART (Double Asteroid Redirection Test) spacecraft back in September 2022.

The mission’s primary goal is to assess the consequences of this unprecedented impact and to conduct an in-depth study of both the external and internal structure of this fascinating celestial body.

Launch Details

The launch is scheduled to take place atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida at 10:52 a.m. EDT (1452 GMT).

For those eager to witness the event, you can tune in live via Space.com or directly through the European Space Agency’s livestream.

About Dimorphos

Dimorphos is classified as a moonlet within a binary asteroid system, known as Didymos.

The DART spacecraft had previously performed a remarkable test by intentionally colliding with Dimorphos, demonstrating a promising planetary defense technique aimed at altering the trajectory of potentially hazardous asteroids.

Expectations and Goals

Should everything go as planned, Hera is expected to arrive at Dimorphos by late 2026.

The spacecraft is designed to measure critical details, including the size and depth of the crater left by the DART mission, as well as assessing the effectiveness of the impact itself.

Companion Spacecraft

In a groundbreaking move, Hera will also deploy two miniature companion spacecraft, Milani and Juventas, which will delve into the asteroid's internal structure, surface minerals, and gravitational properties.

The data collected will not only deepen our understanding of Dimorphos but also inform future asteroid deflection missions and strategies for planetary defense.

Preparation for Launch

The Hera mission team transported the spacecraft and its cubesats to the launch site in early September.

While the launch is scheduled for October 7th, the mission will have a launch window extending through October 27th, giving the team flexibility to ensure a successful liftoff.

Conclusion

Stay tuned for more updates leading up to this historic event and, of course, don’t forget to tune in to witness this exciting moment in space exploration unfolding live!