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The DART and Hera missions

Sabina Raducan

13:45 - 14:30

Pavillon

Following a 10-month journey through space, NASA's Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) spacecraft successfully impacted the asteroid Dimorphos, ~ 160 meters in diameter and the secondary of the Didymos system, at more than 6 km/s. This impact occurred on September 26, 2022 and caused a more than 30-minute shift in Dimorphos' orbit around its primary. The aftermath of the impact has been observed by various means, including Earth-based and space-based telescopes. This experiment marks a crucial milestone towards developing effective strategies for deflecting asteroids, thereby protecting our planet. Our research includes high-fidelity numerical simulations of the impact which help us to determine the asteroid's properties. The European Space Agency's Hera mission is scheduled to launch in October 2024 and will measure the results of the DART mission kinetic impactor test, as well as provide valuable insights for future asteroid deflection efforts.