\n<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t05\/03\/2025<\/span> ESA\u2019s first planetary defence\u00a0mission, Hera, launched in October 2024 on a journey to the binary asteroid system Didymos, where it and its two CubeSat passengers, Milani and Juventas, will study the aftermath of humankind\u2019s first attempt at asteroid deflection.<\/p>\n To facilitate its rapid development, ESA’s Ramses mission will leverage much of the technology developed for Hera.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n The mission\u2019s first CubeSat will be a hybrid that combines the platform and dust analyser of Milani with the low-frequency radar instrument of Juventas.<\/p>\n The dust analyser will examine the material that could be released from the surface of Apophis by phenomena such as landslides, while the radar instrument will enable a detailed investigation of Apophis\u2019 internal structure.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n While Apophis poses no danger, these investigations would allow us to practice techniques that humankind could use to determine the structure of a hazardous asteroid and assess how best to knock it off a collision course with Earth.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Tyvak International will draw on their experience overseeing the development of Hera\u2019s Milani CubeSat to lead a consortium of companies from a number of ESA Member States. The project has been awarded 4.7 million euros of the funding allocated to Ramses mission preparations in July 2024.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n \u201cBy utilising existing technologies, this CubeSat will bring onboard the Ramses mission trusted European industrial and research partners that have demonstrated their ability to deliver high-quality mission elements under a tight deadline,\u201d says Fabio Nichele, CEO at Tyvak International.<\/p>\n \u201cOur commitment to undertake and exceed advanced space mission challenges, and flawlessly deliver miniaturised space system technologies, is pushing the boundaries of the European planetary defence to unrivalled excellence. We are thrilled to honour the trust of the Agency in such complex and historical journey.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Meanwhile, preparations for the main Ramses spacecraft are making good progress and demonstrating the maturity of the overall mission concept prior to the critical funding decision at ESA\u2019s Ministerial Council in November.<\/p>\n \u201cThe recent discovery of asteroid 2024 YR4\u00a0has highlighted the fact that an asteroid reconnaissance mission could be required at short notice if we were to detect a significant impact hazard,\u201d says Richard Moissl, Head of Planetary Defence at ESA.<\/p>\n \u201cWith Ramses, we are not only capitalising on a unique scientific opportunity, we are also demonstrating ESA\u2019s ability to develop an asteroid mission on a strict deadline that realistically reflects the time we may have to respond to a hazard in the future.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Ramses project manager, Paolo Martino, adds: \u201cWhen Apophis passes Earth in April 2029, it will capture the attention of the entire world.”<\/p>\n “With Ramses, we could put Europe in a front row seat: we could be the ones delivering the close-up images of Apophis and leading global efforts to harness this truly historic opportunity for space exploration, asteroid science and planetary defence.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThanks to the hard work of our industrial and institutional partners in Europe and Japan, Ramses continues to pass each milestone on its tight schedule, which would require a launch in 2028 in order to rendezvous with Apophis before it passes Earth.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Relying on proven technology for the first Ramses CubeSat has enabled the team to explore exciting new possibilities for the second. The Ramses team is currently considering whether the mission\u2019s second CubeSat could instead be a lander that would touch down on Apophis. The lander\u2019s surface instruments could open up a new valuable dimension to the mission\u2019s scientific capabilities.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
\n\t\t\t\t147<\/span> views<\/small><\/span>
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t3<\/span> likes<\/small><\/span><\/p>\n<\/header>\n\n
Building on Hera’s legacy<\/h2>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n1500 days until Apophis \u2013 Ramses mission on track <\/h2>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nCould we land on Apophis?<\/h2>\n