Four years ago, NASA punched an asteroid. Europe's Hera probe arrives this month to inspect the wreckage

Europe’s Hera probe will arrive at the Didymos asteroid system in late September after a journey of approximately six years. The European Space Agency (ESA) mission aims to investigate the aftermath of the NASA DART impact that occurred on November 26, 2022. Scientists are particularly interested in assessing the changes to the smaller, roughly 160-meter fragment, nicknamed “Gela,” resulting from the intentional crash by the DART spacecraft. Data collected by Hera will provide crucial insights into the effectiveness of kinetic deflection as a planetary defense technique. This detailed analysis is expected to inform future efforts to mitigate potential threats posed by asteroids approaching Earth.