SpaceX has shared a breathtaking image of Earth taken during the launch of the European Space Agency’s Hera mission. The image showcases the upper stage of the Falcon 9 rocket with our planet as a backdrop. Hera is a planetary defense mission aimed at analyzing the impact of NASA’s DART mission, which successfully altered the trajectory of an asteroid. This mission will provide valuable insights into asteroid composition and the effectiveness of planetary defense strategies.
NASA’s NEOWISE space telescope, dedicated to detecting near-Earth asteroids and comets, has ended its 15-year mission. The spacecraft, which vastly exceeded its original seven-month lifespan, discovered over 200 previously unknown near-Earth objects and provided valuable data on thousands more. The end of its mission is due to the sun’s increasing activity, which poses a threat to the spacecraft’s stability. While NEOWISE’s retirement leaves a temporary gap in Earth’s planetary defense, NASA’s NEO Surveyor telescope is in development, aiming to fill the void starting in 2027.
The European Space Agency (ESA) is preparing a mission to track the 1,230-foot-long asteroid Apophis as it makes a remarkably close flyby of Earth in 2029. The mission, known as Ramses, aims to study the asteroid’s physical changes under Earth’s gravitational forces, providing valuable insights for planetary defense against future asteroid threats.
ISRO Chairman S. Somanath has expressed India’s interest in participating in global initiatives to study and defend against asteroids. He highlighted the need for international cooperation and emphasized India’s capabilities in space exploration, including recent achievements like the Chandrayaan-3 and Aditya-L1 missions. India is looking to contribute to upcoming missions like the study of the asteroid Apophis in 2029, potentially providing instruments or support to joint missions led by NASA, ESA, and JAXA.
NASA, along with FEMA and the Department of State Office of Space Affairs, conducted a large-scale simulation to test their response to a potential asteroid impact. The exercise focused on an asteroid with a 72% chance of hitting Earth within 14 years. While no known asteroids currently pose a threat, the exercise highlighted the importance of being prepared for such a scenario. NASA emphasizes that early detection is key, as it allows for more time to develop and implement mitigation strategies.
Mars is more likely to experience close encounters with potentially dangerous asteroids than Earth, according to a recent study. Researchers have identified approximately 52 large asteroids that pass near Mars annually, which is about 2.6 times more than the number approaching Earth. These asteroids, known as ‘CAPHAs’ (close approach potentially hazardous asteroids), could pose a significant threat to future exploratory missions and human settlements on the Red Planet.
