Space probes·ESA

Hera

In transitLaunched in 2024·Didymos orbit — arrival November 2026

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

Main objectives

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.

Feb 27, 2026

Final deep-space maneuver

The spacecraft enters its final cruise phase.

Oct 15, 2026

Rendez-vous maneuvers

Braking burns for insertion into orbit around Didymos.

Nov 15, 2026

Arrival at Didymos

Detailed study of the DART crater on Dimorphos begins.

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DRACO

High-resolution camera/telescope for optical imaging and autonomous navigation (DART)

SMART Nav

Real-time autonomous navigation algorithm system guiding DART to impact

LICIACube

Italian CubeSat deployed before impact to image the collision and ejected debris cloud

AFC

Asteroid Framing Cameras for navigation and post-impact surface mapping (Hera)

JuRa

Low-frequency radar on the Juventas CubeSat to probe the asteroid's internal structure (Hera)

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