1,491 injured. That was the outcome in 2013 from the impact of a 17-meter-diameter meteorite in the Russian city of Chelyabinsk south of the Urals. This event served as a warning, as there are – at least as far as we know – over a million asteroids in the universe, of which 36,000 are near Earth. Among these, based on data from the European Space Agency (ESA), 1,663 pose a risk to the planet: each one larger than the one that impacted Russia.
The threat from asteroids is significant, but time is on humanity’s side. Scientists estimate that there are at least a century before Earth must confront a meteorite whose impact would be catastrophic for a large portion of the planet. In light of this situation, the ESA is preparing its first planetary defense mission, Hera, which will study the effects experienced by Dimorphos – an asteroid 150 meters in diameter capable of destroying a European capital – whose orbit was altered two years ago by a NASA satellite.
As a pioneering mission, the project has necessitated the design of new technologies over the last four years. In this regard, among the more than 70 companies and institutions from Europe involved, the Spanish space industry has played a leading role in its development, providing systems, antennas, and devices essential for the success of Hera.
One of the national companies that ESA has partnered with is GMV. The company, located in Tres Cantos (Madrid), has been responsible for developing an innovative system for guidance, navigation, and control (GNC), which is vital to ensure that the mission is executed safely and efficiently. To accomplish this task, GMV has led an international industrial consortium comprising Spain, Portugal, Romania, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Ireland.
“The GNC system of a space mission is a crucial system” that directs, navigates, and controls the trajectory and pointing of a spacecraft or satellite toward its destination,” explained Andrea Pellacani, technical manager of the Hera GNC system at GMV. “Without precise GNC, a spacecraft could stray off course, fail to reach its goal, or even collide with other objects in space,” he elaborated.
For its part, Emxys has entered the realm of deep space missions for the first time with Hera. The company, based in Elche (Alicante), has designed the electronics for the Grass instrument and gravimeter of high sensitivity capable of measuring a gravitational pull 200,000 times weaker than that of Earth, which applies to the asteroid being studied.
“This mission not only represents a key milestone in our company’s history but also highlights our commitment to innovation in the exploration of near-Earth objects. We are thrilled to contribute to planetary defense and hope our technological advancements will provide valuable data for future missions,” stated Jose Antonio Carrasco, CEO of Emxys.
Similarly, the Spanish subsidiary of Thales Alenia Space has focused on the communications system of Hera, which the company describes as the umbilical cord linking the spacecraft to Earth, enabling control from the Control Center throughout the mission, even at distances reaching hundreds of millions of kilometers.
“The communications system will also allow us to transmit to Earth the information collected by the instruments on board the spacecraft and the two CubeSats accompanying it,” Susana Infante, project manager for Hera at Thales Alenia Space, explained to Infobae Spain. “Specifically, it will relay precise measurements of the mass of the asteroid Dimorphos and information regarding its composition and structure, which constitutes the main objective of the mission,” she indicated.
Furthermore, Infante pointed out that they faced both technological challenges and programmatic hurdles in developing this technology. “From a technical perspective, the greatest challenge arises from the need to transmit substantial amounts of information over extremely long distances, up to 500 million kilometers, which is more than three times the distance between the Sun and Earth,” she detailed.
In this context, this is currently the most distant space mission from Earth for which Thales Alenia Space has developed the communications system in Spain. “For us, it’s a point of pride to contribute to this exciting ESA mission that, alongside NASA’s Dart mission, represents a historic experiment for humanity in its quest to protect Earth from asteroid collisions that could threaten life on our planet,” Infante emphasized.
Hera Mission: Europe’s First Planetary Defense Initiative
The Meteorite Threat: A Stark Reality
1,491 injured. This was the unfortunate outcome of a 2013 meteorite impact in the Russian city of Cheliábinsk, highlighting the potential dangers posed by space rocks. Scientists estimate that there are over a million asteroids in the universe, with 36,000 classified as near-Earth objects. Specifically, the European Space Agency (ESA) has identified 1,663 asteroids that pose real risks of collision with our planet.
Fortunately, experts believe that humanity has time to prepare for asteroid threats, with estimates suggesting we have at least a century to develop effective defensive strategies against potentially catastrophic impacts.
The Hera Mission: An Overview
To tackle the imminent threat of asteroid impacts, the ESA is launching its first planetary defense initiative known as the Hera Mission. This groundbreaking project aims to analyze the aftermath of the Dimorphos asteroid, a 150-meter-wide object capable of catastrophic destruction.
Two years ago, NASA’s DART mission successfully altered Dimorphos’ orbit, making Hera’s objective to investigate these changes more compelling. Through this innovative mission, ESA hopes to unveil significant insights into asteroid dynamics and their potential impact on Earth.
Technological Innovations: The Backbone of Hera
With Hera being a pioneering mission, the project has necessitated the development of cutting-edge technologies across various sectors. Over 70 companies and institutions from Europe are collaborating on this exciting endeavor, with notable contributions from Spain’s space industry.
Guided Navigation and Control (GNC) System
One critical component of the Hera Mission is the Guided Navigation and Control (GNC) system, developed by the Spanish company GMV. Based in Tres Cantos, Madrid, GMV leads an international consortium, ensuring the spacecraft’s trajectory and navigation are precisely managed.
According to Andrea Pellacani, the technical manager of the Hera GNC system at GMV, “Without accurate GNC, a spacecraft could veer off course, fail to reach its target, or collide with other celestial objects.”
High-Sensitivity Gravity Measurement Instruments
Participating in its first deep-space mission, the company Emxys, located in Elche, Alicante, has designed the high-sensitivity instruments named Grass and gravímetro. These instruments are essential for measuring gravitational forces significantly lower than Earth’s, particularly on small asteroids.
José Antonio Carrasco, CEO of Emxys, emphasized the significance of the mission, stating, “This marks a milestone in our history, showcasing our commitment to innovation in exploring near-Earth objects.”
Communication Systems: The Lifeline of the Mission
The Spanish subsidiary of Thales Alenia Space has been tasked with developing the communication systems for Hera. This vital technology, described as the “umbilical cord” of the spacecraft, allows for real-time communication and control from the Earth, even across nearly unimaginable distances.
According to Susana Infante, project manager for Hera at Thales Alenia Space, “The communication system will transmit the vast amounts of data collected by the onboard instruments and the accompanying CubeSats, providing crucial information about Dimorphos’s mass, composition, and structure.”
Challenges and Opportunities Ahead
The journey to establish the communication system has not been without challenges. Infante noted that one of the greatest hurdles is effectively transmitting large volumes of data over extreme distances, reaching up to 500 million kilometers. This distance dwarfs even the separation between the Earth and the Sun.
This mission, being the furthest one for which Thales Alenia Space has developed a communication system, represents a significant achievement for the company and demonstrates Europe’s commitment to planetary defense against potential threats to life on Earth.
Benefits of the Hera Mission
- Enhanced Understanding: By analyzing Dimorphos, the Hera Mission will provide crucial insights into the physical properties of asteroids.
- Improved Defense Strategies: The mission’s outcomes can help develop and refine strategies to potentially mitigate future asteroid threats.
- International Collaboration: Hera showcases the collaborative spirit of European countries in addressing global challenges, fostering partnerships in space technology.
- Innovation Stimulation: The mission encourages technological advancements, which could have wider applications beyond space exploration.
FAQs About the Hera Mission
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What is the Hera Mission? | Hera is ESA’s first planetary defense mission aimed at studying the asteroid Dimorphos. |
| When was the Hera Mission initiated? | The Hera Mission was announced following the success of NASA’s DART mission, which impacted Dimorphos in 2022. |
| What technology is GMV providing for the Hera Mission? | GMV is responsible for the GNC system that directs and controls the spacecraft’s trajectory. |
| Who designed the high-sensitivity instruments used in Hera? | The high-sensitivity instruments were designed by Emxys, with capabilities to measure low gravitational forces. |
| What is the primary objective of the Hera Mission? | The primary objective is to assess Dimorphos’s properties and the effects of the DART impact on its trajectory. |
