Hera, built by OHB for the European Space Agency (ESA), has sent its first close-up images of the Didymos binary asteroid system. The milestone marks the start of the final and most critical phase of Europe’s first planetary defense mission. [3, 7]
Captured from about 60 kilometers away, the images provide the first detailed views of the larger asteroid, Didymos, showing a rugged surface dotted with boulders and craters. [7]
The images confirm that the spacecraft is operating successfully after a two-year journey through space. Hera will study the aftermath of humanity’s first asteroid deflection test, helping researchers develop strategies to protect Earth from future asteroid threats. [7]
OHB also completed deployment rehearsals for the CubeSats that Hera will release to investigate the asteroid system further. [3]