Cape Canaveral, Florida.- A European spacecraft took off today to investigate the scene of a cosmic impact.
The European Space Agency’s Hera spacecraft began a two-year journey toward the small, harmless asteroid struck by NASA two years ago in a dress rehearsal for the day a space rock threatens Earth. Launched by SpaceX from Cape Canaveral, Florida, the craft represents the second part of a planetary defense test that could one day help save the planet.
The 2022 impact of NASA’s Dart spacecraft shortened Dimorphos’ orbit around its larger companion, showing that if a dangerous rock is headed our way, there’s a chance it could veer off course well in advance. .
Scientists are eager to closely examine the aftermath of the impact to find out exactly how effective Dart was and what changes might be needed to safeguard Earth in the future.
“The more details we can get, the better, as it may be important for planning a future deflection mission if one is needed,” said Derek Richardson, an astronomer at the University of Maryland.
Researchers want to know if the Dart spacecraft, which stands for Double Asteroid Redirection Test, left a crater or perhaps reshaped the 500-foot (150-meter) asteroid more drastically. It looked like a flying saucer before Dart hit and now looks like a bean, said Richardson, who participated in the Dart mission and is helping with Hera.
Dart’s impact sent debris and even rocks flying from Dimorphos. The trail of debris extended more than 10,000 kilometers (about 6,200 miles) into space for months.
Some rocks and other debris could still be floating around the asteroid, posing a potential threat to Hera, said flight director Ignacio Tanco.
“We really don’t know very well the environment in which we are going to operate,” Tanco explained. “But that’s the goal of the mission, to go there and find out.”
European authorities describe the $400 million (€363 million) mission as an “accident scene investigation.”
Hera “is returning to the crime scene and obtaining all the scientific and technical information,” according to project leader Ian Carnelli.
#Hera #spacecraft #undertakes #mission #examine #asteroid