Falcon 9 Launches European Hera Asteroid Mission

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — A Falcon 9 successfully launched a European asteroid mission on October 7, 2024, marking a significant milestone for both the rocket and the European Space Agency (ESA).

The Launch Event

The Falcon 9 lifted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at 10:52 a.m. Eastern. Following its ascent, the rocket deployed the Hera spacecraft approximately 76 minutes later, executing two burns of the upper stage to position the spacecraft on an interplanetary trajectory.

A Falcon 9 lifts off Oct. 7 carrying the Hera spacecraft for ESA. Credit: SpaceX webcast

Weather Challenges

The launch proceeded amidst challenging weather conditions, initially forecasted to have only a 15% chance of acceptable weather. However, as launch time approached, conditions improved enough to permit the rocket's launch.

Launching History and Context

This launch was the first for the Falcon 9 since the Crew-9 mission on September 28, 2024, which encountered an anomaly during its deorbit burn after delivering the Crew Dragon spacecraft. The FAA cleared SpaceX to proceed with this launch, given that the upper stage would not be deorbited.

Booster Background

This launch was the 23rd flight for the Falcon 9 booster designated B1061, which had an impressive track record, having been utilized on various missions including the Crew-1 and Crew-2 flights, a space station cargo mission, multiple satellite deployments, and a staggering ten Starlink missions.

The Hera Mission Overview

The Hera mission is slated to visit the near-Earth asteroid Didymos and its moon, Dimorphos, the latter having been the target of NASA’s Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission conducted two years prior. DART performed a direct collision with Dimorphos, impacting its orbital period around Didymos to validate the kinetic impactor technique for asteroid deflection.

Scientific Objectives

Hera is tasked with studying Didymos and Dimorphos following the DART impact to assess the changes incurred and evaluate the success of the kinetic impactor technique. Principal investigator Patrick Michel has stated, “With Hera, it’s like a detective going back to a crime scene,” emphasizing the mission's scientific value.

Enabling Technologies

Hera is equipped with two 6U cubesats, which it will deploy during its mission. These cubesats, named Juventas and Milani, each have specific objectives:

• Juventas: Equipped with a radar to probe the asteroid’s interior, seeking to determine its structural characteristics — specifically, whether it is a “rubble pile” of smaller rocks.
• Milani: Tasked with analyzing the surface and composition of the asteroids to ascertain if Dimorphos contains debris derived from Didymos.

Both cubesats are expected to conclude their missions with landing attempts on Dimorphos, with Juventas outfitted with a gravimeter to measure the asteroid's gravitational field. Hera's mission may culminate with a landing on Didymos as well.

Expectation and Funding

With a budget of 363 million euros ($401 million), the Hera mission faced a rapid development timeline. Funding for the project was secured at the end of 2019, and project managers expressed surprise at completing the spacecraft in such a short time. “Few believed we were going to make it,” said Ian Carnelli, ESA's Hera project manager, acknowledging the collaboration with prime contractor OHB and other key mission partners.

Germany’s Role

Germany was the leading contributor to the Hera initiative, with DLR's Walther Pelzer citing dual interests in planetary defense and technology development. “I think we will gain a tailwind for Ramses,” Pelzer remarked, referencing a proposed mission to utilize the Hera design for a visit to the asteroid Apophis as it approaches Earth in 2029.

Innovative Organization

Carnelli highlighted the unconventional methods applied in developing Hera, with the final mission software compiled during a flight to Florida for the launch. This software was then verified and sent to ground teams using WhatsApp, which received approval within three hours — a feat that might be unprecedented in aerospace history.

“I hope Hera is going to pave the way for many more missions that are fast and innovative,” Carnelli concluded. “It involves risk-taking, for sure, but we’re exploring the solar system in new ways.”

Conclusions

The successful launch of the Falcon 9 carrying ESA’s Hera spacecraft represents a significant step for European contributions to planetary defense and asteroid exploration. The collaborative international effort and technological advancements showcased reveal promising pathways for future missions, with high stakes and rewards for planetary defense strategies.

For More Information

For further insights and updates on the Hera mission, visit [SpaceNews](https://spacenews.com) and explore related articles such as:

• FAA clears Falcon 9 launch of Hera mission
• NASA Veteran Joins Desert Works
• ImageSat Announces $54.5 Million Contract

This article is based on coverage carried out by Jeff Foust for SpaceNews.