### European Spacecraft Mission Launched to Examine Post-DART Impact

A Falcon 9 rocket lifted the European Space Agency's Hera mission into space on Monday from NASA's Kennedy Space Center. The mission aims to investigate the outcome of NASA's DART mission, which two years ago intentionally collided with the asteroid Dimorphos, altering its orbit. This Falcon 9 launch marks the first since an anomaly occurred during the Crew-7 mission in September, an incident currently under review by the Federal Aviation Administration.

Accompanying Hera on its journey are two CubeSats, compact satellites that will aid in the detailed examination of Dimorphos and its larger companion, Didymos. The trio is expected to reach their destination in late 2026. The ESA scientists are eager to conduct a thorough "crash scene investigation" to fill in the knowledge gaps left by the DART mission, particularly whether the kinetic impact merely created a crater or completely restructured the asteroid.

The DART mission was a crucial step in testing planetary defense technologies, aiming to check if crashing a spacecraft into an asteroid at high speed would effectively alter its trajectory. Though neither Dimorphos nor Didymos threatens Earth, the binary system's characteristics made it the ideal candidate for this technological test.

Following the initial success where the DART spacecraft altered Dimorphos' orbital period by approximately 32-33 minutes, scientists are left with pertinent queries about the double-asteroid's composition and internal structure. The Hera spacecraft, set to cover a distance of about 121 million miles to reach its target, will contribute significant insights into these aspects. This research is vital as it will refine deflection technologies, potentially ensuring Earth's safety from future asteroid threats.

Before reaching the Didymos system, Hera will pass by Mars in March 2025 to gain the necessary momentum for its journey. During this flyby, Hera will gather data about Mars' moon, Deimos, assisting Japan's upcoming Martian Moons eXploration probe. By October 2026, Hera is expected to enter orbit around Didymos and start detailed observations of both asteroids, identifying points of interest for closer future missions.

Hera's onboard CubeSats, named Juventas and Milani, will play a pivotal role in the mission. Equipped with advanced instrumentation, including a radar to probe beneath the asteroid's surface and a multispectral imager for detailed surface mapping, they will relay critical data back to Earth. They will support Hera as it conducts multiple close flybys, eventually getting within 0.6 miles of the asteroids' surfaces.

The mission holds the promise of revealing substantial details about Dimorphos' internal structure and composition, which could help scientists better understand the potential threat posed by similar-sized asteroids. While the primary aim of the DART mission has been deemed a success, Hera's findings will be indispensable in measuring the true efficiency of such asteroid deflection tests and fortifying planetary defense strategies.

In summary, the Hera mission stands as a testament to ongoing efforts in planetary defense. It will not only validate the pioneering work of the DART mission but also propel our understanding of asteroid dynamics and composition to new heights.