Asteroid threat: ESA planning launch of major defence system which could save humanity

“Hera will be humanity’s first-ever spacecraft to visit a double asteroid, the Didymos binary system.

“First, NASA will crash its DART spacecraft into the smaller asteroid – known as Didymoon – before ESA’s Hera comes in to map the resulting impact crater and measure the asteroid’s mass.

“Hera will carry two CubeSats on board, which will be able to fly much closer to the asteroid’s surface, carrying out crucial scientific studies, before touching down.

“Hera’s up-close observations will turn asteroid deflection into a well-understood planetary defence technique.”

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