Hera Asteroid Probe Advances to Mars for Asteroid Deflection Study
The Hera asteroid probe has reached an important milestone. The European Space Agency (ESA) reported that Hera fired its three thrusters for 13 minutes on November 6. This followed a longer burn of 100 minutes on October 23.
These maneuvers increased Hera’s speed by 544 feet per second (166 meters per second). Hera is now on track to fly by Mars in March 2025. It will use Mars’s gravity for acceleration to reach its final destination.
Francesco Castellini, from ESA’s Flight Dynamics team, stated that they are analyzing Hera’s new trajectory. A minor correction maneuver will occur on November 21 to fine-tune its path for the Mars flyby.
During the flyby, Hera will also pass by Deimos, one of Mars’s moons. It will collect scientific data on this moon as an added benefit.
How will the data collected by Hera and its cubesats contribute to our understanding of asteroids?
Interview with Francesco Castellini of ESA on Hera Asteroid Probe’s Recent Milestones
NewsDirectory3: Thank you for joining us, Francesco. The recent burn of Hera’s thrusters is a significant milestone in its mission. Can you elaborate on the importance of the thruster sequences that occurred on October 23 and November 6?
Francesco Castellini: Certainly! The maneuvers we performed are crucial for altering Hera’s trajectory. The longer burn on October 23 lasted 100 minutes and was foundational in boosting Hera’s velocity. Following that, the brief 13-minute burn on November 6 further refined its speed. Altogether, these actions increased Hera’s speed by 544 feet per second, helping us set the course for the upcoming Mars flyby.
NewsDirectory3: That’s fascinating! Can you tell us more about the upcoming flyby in March 2025?
Francesco Castellini: The Mars flyby is a pivotal point in our journey. We will utilize Mars’s gravitational pull to accelerate Hera towards its final destination—the Didymos system. This gravity assist is critical as it allows us to save fuel and time. During this flyby, Hera will also make a close pass by Deimos, one of Mars’s moons, which provides a unique opportunity to collect scientific data on it.
NewsDirectory3: What can you share about the trajectory analysis that you and your team are conducting?
Francesco Castellini: Our team is currently analyzing Hera’s new trajectory after the recent maneuvers. We want to ensure everything is perfectly aligned for the flyby. To that end, we have scheduled a minor correction maneuver for November 21. This will allow us to fine-tune Hera’s path to ensure it executes its flyby with precision.
NewsDirectory3: The journey of Hera began with its launch on October 7. What can you tell us about the probe and its cargo?
Francesco Castellini: Hera was launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 from Cape Canaveral, carrying not just scientific instruments but also two cubesats named Milani and Juventas. These cubesats will play important roles in the mission by providing additional data from a different perspective. We anticipate reaching the Didymos system in late 2026, marking an exciting chapter in our exploration of asteroids.
NewsDirectory3: Recent imagery from ESA shows Hera making its way away from Earth and the Moon. How does that imagery reflect the success of the mission so far?
Francesco Castellini: Yes, it’s indeed rewarding to see those images. They reflect not only our successful launch but also the progress we’ve made in our journey. Each successful maneuver is a step forward, and the imagery captures Hera moving away as it embarks on its exciting mission.
NewsDirectory3: Thank you, Francesco, for sharing these insights. It sounds like Hera’s mission is off to a great start, and we look forward to following its journey.
Francesco Castellini: Thank you for having me! We’re excited about what’s to come and can’t wait to share our findings with everyone.
Hera was launched on October 7 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. It carries two cubesats, Milani and Juventas, and is expected to arrive at the Didymos system in late 2026.
Recent imagery from ESA shows Hera moving farther away from Earth and the Moon.