Current:Home > BackSpaceX launch: Europe's Hera spacecraft on way to study asteroid Dimorphos-LoTradeCoin
SpaceX launch: Europe's Hera spacecraft on way to study asteroid Dimorphos
View Date:2024-12-23 20:03:38
A European spacecraft is soaring on its way to get an up-close look at the remnants of an asteroid that NASA deliberately crashed its own vehicle into two years ago.
Hera, an orbiter built by the European Space Agency, launched at 10:52 a.m. ET Monday from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. Ahead of the small craft is a two-year journey to Dimorphos, a tiny moonlet asteroid orbiting the larger 2,560-foot space rock Didymos.
The mission is part of a global effort between the world's space agencies to build a defense against dangerous space rocks that threaten our planet. In 2022, NASA intentionally slammed a spacecraft into Dimorphos at roughly 14,000 mph to test a method of redirecting asteroids hurtling toward Earth.
Dimorphos, which never posed any threat to Earth, still remains ripe for study two years later. Here's what to know about the Hera mission.
Hera spacecraft launches over Florida coast
Though Hurricane Milton is moving its way toward Florida's western coast, the Hera spacecraft still managed to depart Monday atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.
That won't be the case for the launch NASA's Europa Clipper, which has been scrubbed until launch teams determine a new target liftoff date after the storm clears.
Forecasts on Sunday suggested only a 15% chance of favorable weather, yet ESA still confirmed conditions were “GO for launch” two hours before the scheduled liftoff time. The agency also provided a live broadcast of the event on YouTube.
Hera will now begin a two-year "cruise phase," the ESA said, which includes a close flyby of Mars within 4,000 miles of the Red Planet – closer than the orbits of the two Martian moons. The spacecraft is expected to enter the Didymos binary system's orbit in October 2026, according to the agency.
What is the Hera mission?
In September 2022, NASA demonstrated that it was possible to nudge an incoming asteroid out of harm's way by slamming a spacecraft into it as part of its Double Asteroid Redirection Test.
Launched in November 2021, DART traveled for more than 10 months before crashing into Dimorphos.
Armed with scientific instruments and two nanosatellites known as CubeSats, Hera is now on its way back to the region to understand not only how binary asteroid systems form, but to determine just how effective NASA's test was. Officials hope that by analyzing the results of NASA's experiment, space agencies will be better positioned to repeat the maneuver, particularly if an asteroid posing an actual threat is on a collision course with Earth.
Eric Lagatta covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Reach him at [email protected]
veryGood! (9)
Related
- Chris Evans Shares Thoughts on Starting a Family With Wife Alba Baptista
- Scrutiny still follows Boston Celtics, even if on brink of eliminating Cleveland Cavaliers
- Duke University graduates walk out ahead of Jerry Seinfeld's commencement address
- The Daily Money: Walmart backpedals on healthcare
- Mike Tyson employs two trainers who 'work like a dream team' as Jake Paul fight nears
- New Mexico judge halts state mandate for school districts to adopt calendars with more school days
- South Carolina governor happy with tax cuts, teacher raises but wants health and energy bills done
- Dallas Stars take commanding series lead vs. Colorado Avalanche with Game 4 win
- Burger King is giving away a million Whoppers for $1: Here's how to get one
- Florida man who survived Bahamas shark attack shares how he kept his cool: 'I'll be alright'
Ranking
- Sean Diddy Combs' Lawyers File New Motion for Bail, Claiming Evidence Depicts a Consensual Relationship
- Families suing over 2021 jet fuel leak into Navy drinking water in Hawaii seek $225K to $1.25M
- Ohio adult-use marijuana sales approved as part of 2023 ballot measure could begin by mid-June
- Georgia requires less basic training for new police officers than any state but Hawaii
- Republican Gabe Evans ousts Democratic US Rep. Yadira Caraveo in Colorado
- After nine years of court oversight, Albuquerque Police now in full compliance with reforms
- NASCAR to launch in-season tournament in 2025 with Amazon Prime Video, TNT Sports
- Unrepentant Jan. 6 rioter Derrick Evans goes up against GOP Rep. Carol Miller in West Virginia
Recommendation
-
Mattel says it ‘deeply’ regrets misprint on ‘Wicked’ dolls packaging that links to porn site
-
'Frightening experience': Armed 16-year-old escorted out of Louisiana church by parishioners
-
Massachusetts is turning a former prison into a shelter for homeless families
-
I've hated Mother's Day since I was 7. I choose to celebrate my mom in my own way.
-
Olympic Skier Lindsey Vonn Coming Out of Retirement at 40
-
Assistant school principal among 4 arrested in cold case triple murder mystery in Georgia
-
Florida man sentenced to 3 years in prison for firebombing California Planned Parenthood clinic
-
North Carolina congressional runoff highlights Trump’s influence in GOP politics