The European Space Agency's probe contains Portuguese technology

The probe was launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral in the United States.

The Hera mission, ESA's first planetary defense mission, will conduct an in-depth study of the asteroid Demorphos, whose orbit was changed in 2022 due to the collision of a probe launched by NASA, as part of the DART mission.

Demorphos, a natural satellite of the asteroid Didymos, was the first object in the solar system to have its orbit changed due to human activity.

The Hera probe, with its 12 instruments, aims to collect data about dimorphism that proves changing the course of an object, such as. B- The asteroid is a reliable technology for planetary defense.

The device will also study the properties of the two asteroids and place two small satellites in Dimorphos orbit, which will monitor its surface and conduct radar surveys, which is the first to do so on an asteroid.

The asteroid that the Hera mission was designed to study is considered a “prototype” of thousands of asteroids that could pose a risk of colliding with Earth.

According to the Portuguese Space Agency, the Portuguese companies Tekever, GMV, FHP and Efacec participated in the development of many technological and operational components, such as: B- A device equipped with “laser” technology that can measure distances of up to 20 kilometers, thermal insulation, and a guidance, navigation and control system for the probe, as well as a communications system. Innovator among satellites.

The Hera probe is expected to reach its final destination, more than 177 kilometers from Earth, in December 2026 after flying by Mars in March 2025.

Dimorphos, with a diameter of 160 metres, orbits Didymos, a larger rocky body with a diameter of 780 metres.

As a member state of the European Space Agency, Portugal decided in 2019 to contribute €2.8 million to finance the €363 million mission.