Persistent mission page
Hera reaches the asteroid humans nudged
Hera is the detective arriving after the crash test. It measures what changed so future asteroid-deflection plans can be based on evidence.
WINDOW SETNovember 2026 · exact sequence TBAAnimations show the plan. They are not footage or proof that arrival happened.
ENGINEERING DIAGRAM · NOT TO SCALE · EXPECTEDWhy show them
Hera is expected to meet Didymos and its moon Dimorphos, then study the result of NASA’s 2022 DART impact—the first test of changing an asteroid’s motion.
Look for
Treat the first pictures as clues, not proof by themselves. Confirmation should combine navigation data, images, and ESA’s statement that rendezvous was achieved.
Tell them this
Hera is the detective arriving after the crash test. It measures what changed so future asteroid-deflection plans can be based on evidence.
Ask them
What would you measure to learn whether a tiny moon’s path really changed?
What happens next
ESA publishes a dated arrival sequence or official first-image advisory.
Update history
What changed
This is the initial edition. Later factual schedule or watch-link changes will appear here with their source and update lineage.
- Content revision
- kids-next-five-8360acce9609df01
- Last source observation
- 2026-08-11T04:20:41Z
- Next milestone
- ESA publishes a dated arrival sequence or official first-image advisory.
A featured Kit appears only after its source, copy, visual, and printable revision pass review.