Research
Europe's Hera spacecraft begins close inspections of an asteroid rammed by NASA in a 2022 test
Phys.org ·
The Brief
- A European Space Agency spacecraft, Hera, has begun close inspections of an asteroid.
- The asteroid was rammed by NASA in a 2022 planetary defense test.
- The source reports the inspections began four years after the 2022 impact.
Why it matters
Close-up observations of an asteroid that was deliberately struck show how the impact changed its size, shape and orbit, which informs how future asteroid deflection missions are planned and judged.
Who’s affected
- planetary scientists and astronomers
- space engineers working on planetary defense
- #planetary defense
- #asteroids
- #esa
- #nasa
- #space missions
- #dart
A European spacecraft has begun close inspections of an asteroid rammed by NASA four years ago in a planetary defense test.
Timeline
Hera begins close inspections of the asteroid rammed by NASA in 2022
Space News - Space, Astronomy, Space Exploration
Europe's Hera spacecraft begins close inspections of an asteroid rammed by NASA in a 2022 test