TRACKER-1ALPHA
48.8566°N / 2.3522°E
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HE
Space probes·ESA

Hera

In transitLaunched in 2024·En route — arrival 2026

An ESA follow-up mission to the DART impact: it studies in detail the crater and the altered orbit of Dimorphos.

Main objectives
  • Measure the effects of the DART impact on asteroid Dimorphos (Hera).
  • Validate asteroid-deflection techniques through kinetic impact.
  • Map Didymos-Dimorphos for planetary defense.
Did you know?

NASA's DART in 2022 deflected Dimorphos by 33 minutes — the first demonstration of planetary defense.

Timeline

Oct 07, 2024
Hera launch

Falcon 9.

Dec 01, 2026
Arrival at Dimorphos
Hera
Photo of Hera
Mission data
StatusIn transit
PositionEn route — arrival 2026
Launched in2024
TargetDidymos / Dimorphos system
Budget0.36B USD

Mission milestones

[02]
  • Milestone
    Launch toward the Didymos system
    A post-DART follow-up mission to measure the crater and orbital deflection of Dimorphos.
    Oct 07, 2024
  • Milestone
    Hera launch
    Falcon 9.
    Oct 07, 2024

Official sources

ESA Hera↗