The spacecraft is undergoing final system tests in the Netherlands before being transported to its launch site in the USA. Meanwhile, Hera's Mission Control Team in Germany has started their launch preparations.

The Hera operations team at ESA's European Space Operations Centre (ESOC) consists of experienced ESA veterans and new recruits. They will take control of Hera post-launch and navigate its two-year journey to Didymos via Mars.

Putting the Hera team to the test
Last week, the Hera Mission Control Team began the most intense phase of their launch preparations - the simulations campaign.

This campaign involves the flight control, flight dynamics, and ground systems teams at ESOC working with the Hera project team from ESTEC and teams from Hera's manufacturers. They will practice mission scenarios repeatedly to prepare for any contingencies, under the motto 'hope for the best, prepare for the worst'.

As the campaign progresses, teams will face increasingly complex issues with their systems and the simulated Hera spacecraft. Simulations Officers introduce subtle errors that are difficult to trace back to their root cause.

During one simulation, a team member noticed a lower output from one of the spacecraft's Sun sensors, indicating possible misalignment with the Sun. They determined the cause might be surface contamination or an electrical issue. The team switched to the backup sensor, resolving the issue. Soon after, the flight dynamics team discovered an unexpected torque affecting Hera, requiring them to decide on a solution while managing other limitations.

"Spacecraft operations involve a lot of problem solving and decision making - often under time pressure. It's our job to unite the team and train them to work together seamlessly," says Simulation Officer Petr Shlyaev. "So far, the Hera team are doing even better than we expected."

Planetary defence at ESA
Hera is the first mission developed under ESA's Space Safety programme and the first beyond Earth orbit. As part of the world's first asteroid deflection test, Hera is central to the efforts of ESA's Planetary Defence Office.

The Office detects and monitors potentially hazardous near-Earth objects and assesses impact risks through its Near-Earth Object Coordination Centre, developing methods to mitigate these dangers.

Other projects include the Flyeye telescopes, which scan the sky for asteroids, and the NEOMIR satellite, which will use infrared light to spot asteroids approaching from the Sun's glare. ESA also supports Asteroid Day, held annually on June 30 to raise public awareness. Hera team members are participating in this year's Asteroid Day activities.

Related Links
Hera at ESA
Asteroid and Comet Mission News, Science and Technology