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\nIn 2022, NASA\u2019s Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART<\/a>) collides with the smaller body of the Didymos binary asteroid system in an attempt to measurably shift its orbit.\n<\/p>\n \nESA\u2019s Hera mission<\/a>, now under study, will examine the aftermath of this impact to help determine whether humans can deflect threatening asteroids.\n<\/p>\n \nHera will also demonstrate the ability to operate at close proximity around a low-gravity asteroid with some on-board autonomy similar in scope to a self-driving car, going on to deploy Europe\u2019s first deep-space CubeSats, and potentially also a micro-lander, to test out a new multi-point intersatellite link technology.\n<\/p>\n \nHera will be highlighted during Asteroid Day on 30 June, an annual opportunity to raise awareness of the threat and opportunity posed by the numerous rocky bodies traversing space.\n<\/p>\n \nAs part of the UN-recognised Asteroid Day, hundreds of regional events take place world wide, with 78 countries so far having hosted concerts, community events, lectures and much more.\n<\/p>\n \nThis year, the European Southern Observatory (ESO<\/a>) and ESA will team up to co-produce a packed webcast, streamed live from the new ESO Supernova Planetarium and Visitor Centre<\/a> in Munich, from 13:00 CEST.\n<\/p>\n \nThe programme will highlight some of the most recent activities in the global hunt for risky asteroids, as well as conversations with ESA planetary scientists, asteroid experts and a variety of guest presenters. Fascinating insights into the 2013 Chelyabinsk event<\/a> will be presented, as well as discussions around the possibility of one day sending humans to asteroids.\n<\/p>\n \nWatch live via esa.int\/asteroidday<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \nIn 2022, NASA’s Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART<\/a>) collides with the smaller body of the Didymos binary asteroid system in an attempt to measurably shift its orbit.\n<\/p>\n \nESA’s Hera mission<\/a>, now under study, will examine the aftermath of this impact to help determine whether humans can deflect threatening asteroids.\n<\/p>\n \nHera will also demonstrate the ability to operate at close proximity around a low-gravity asteroid with some on-board autonomy similar in scope to a self-driving car, going on to deploy Europe’s first deep-space CubeSats, and potentially also a micro-lander, to test out a new multi-point intersatellite link technology.\n<\/p>\n \nHera will be highlighted during Asteroid Day on 30 June, an annual opportunity to raise awareness of the threat and opportunity posed by the numerous rocky bodies traversing space.\n<\/p>\n \nAs part of the UN-recognised Asteroid Day, hundreds of regional events take place world wide, with 78 countries so far having hosted concerts, community events, lectures and much more.\n<\/p>\n \nThis year, the European Southern Observatory (ESO<\/a>) and ESA will team up to co-produce a packed webcast, streamed live from the new ESO Supernova Planetarium and Visitor Centre<\/a> in Munich, from 13:00 CEST.\n<\/p>\n \nThe programme will highlight some of the most recent activities in the global hunt for risky asteroids, as well as conversations with ESA planetary scientists, asteroid experts and a variety of guest presenters. Fascinating insights into the 2013 Chelyabinsk event<\/a> will be presented, as well as discussions around the possibility of one day sending humans to asteroids.\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n