Hera spacecraft approaches redirected asteroids to study collision aftermath
NASA’s Hera spacecraft has captured its first clear view of the two asteroids involved in the space agency’s historic 2022 attempt to redirect a potentially dangerous asteroid. The observation provides a clearer picture of the system ahead of Hera’s close approach.
The mission will examine the effects of the deliberate collision and the material surrounding the asteroids. By studying the aftermath, scientists hope to understand the processes that shaped it and why the asteroid shifted much farther than expected.
Hera’s investigation could help researchers assess what happens when a spacecraft strikes an asteroid, an important consideration for planetary-defense strategies designed to alter the course of threatening objects.