ESA's Hera mission
@ESA_Hera
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Part of the first test of asteroid deflection. Launched 7 October 2024 on a mission to the binary asteroid system Didymos. #HeraMission #PlanetaryDefence
Joined June 2023
Hera's team @esaoperations used the spacecraft to observe two asteroids at short notice. This is a hot topic, as scientists discuss the possibility of using existing spacecraft to observe high-priority, deep-space objects like 2024 YR4 or 3I/ATLAS. Asteroid (1126) Otero 👇
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ESA's Hera mission has spotted its first asteroids!. Hera is on the way to the Didymos binary asteroid system to explore the aftermath of humankind's first attempt to move an asteroid. Though faint, these observations are very encouraging for the performance of Hera's camera.
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RT @esaoperations: ESA's astronomers are actively tracking 3I/ATLAS, which is now the third confirmed interstellar comet to pass through ou….
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RT @esaoperations: Astronomers may have just discovered the third interstellar object passing through the Solar System!. ESA’s Planetary De….
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RT @esaoperations: "Every time we have interacted with an asteroid, the reaction has been totally different from what we expected.". Check….
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RT @esaoperations: Today, we are at the @AsteroidDay Festival in Luxembourg to share the excitement of ESA's Planetary Defence activities w….
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RT @esaoperations: All aboard for asteroid Apophis!. ESA's Ramses mission aims to rendezvous with the asteroid Apophis as it passes Earth i….
esa.int
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Want to keep Hera company during its voyage through space? Head over to and ask Hera questions about the mission, space exploration, asteroids, and planetary defence!
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ESA's #HeraMission launched six months ago! Hera has already been treated to exciting views of two planets and their moons, but there is much more to come once it reaches the asteroid Didymos and its moonlet, Dimorphos, in late 2026.🛰️🔎🪨🪨
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RT @esaspaceflight: As the #HeraMission flew past planet Mars, we kept a close watch on Oxia Planum, the landing site for the @ESA_ExoMars….
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📽️Why does #HeraMission need autonomous surface feature tracking for self-driving, recently tested at🔴Mars? When Hera ventures closest to its target asteroid, it will have no other way of navigating:
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RT @deepbluedot: #BREAKING first time ever a spacecraft autonomously selected surface features and follows them enabling onboard vision-bas….
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As #HeraMission flew past planet Mars it autonomously locked onto dozens of impact craters and other prominent surface features, tracking them over time, to test the self-driving technology the mission will employ to navigate around its target asteroids
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This sped-up replay of the simulation that helped plan #HeraMission's gravity-assist Mars flyby on Wednesday now blends in actual Asteroid Framing Camera images acquired during the flyby, to compare simulation with observed reality!
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RT @JAXA_Hera: TIRI successfully acquired images of Mars and its moon, Deimos! Click here for more details.✨.
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🔴 Our #HeraMission just flew by Mars, using the planet’s gravity to speed up towards its target asteroids. Wondering what it was like for the mission engineers to assemble Hera? Make one with @LEGO_Group🧱 – choose your favourite model and get building! 🔨
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RT @ESA_Tech: Any more questions about our #HeraMission Mars flyby? Why not ask our mission AI itself - the Hera Space Companion is ready t….
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RT @esaspaceflight: The astronaut, the asteroid and Mars. 👨🚀☄️🔴. "I am very inspired by these images of Deimos and Mars – my second favour….
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RT @deepbluedot: #HeraMission #Mars flyby… and here is #Deimos, so beautiful 🤩 the spacecraft is nominal and now heading to its final desti….
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