LAZZARIN , Monica

The Hera mission is in development for launch in 2024 within the ESA Space Safety Program. Hera will contribute to the first deflection test of an asteroid, in the framework of the international NASA-and ESA-supported Asteroid Impact and Deflection Assessment (AIDA) collaboration. Hera will also offer a great science return.

The impact of the NASA DART spacecraft on the 160 m-diameter natural satellite called Dimorphosof the binary asteroid 65803 Didymos on 26 September 2022 will change its orbital period aroundDidymos. The change can be detected by Earth-based observers. Before impact, DART will deploy the Italian LICIACube that willprovide images of the first...