GomSpace, a firm specializing in the development and production of nano-satellites, has signed a contract worth 8.4 million Swedish Krona (approximately $1 million) with the European Space Agency (ESA) to develop and deliver its contribution to Europe’s Planetary Defense and Space Exploration strategy. The contract comes as part of the Hera mission, which is Europe’s contribution to an international effort to deflect dangerous asteroids away from Earth.
The Hera mission is a component of the Asteroid Impact & Deflection Assessment (AIDA) project, a joint venture between NASA and ESA. The AIDA mission aims to crash a spacecraft into the binary asteroid system Didymos in order to change the orbit of its moonlet. GomSpace’s contribution to the Hera mission will involve the provision of nanosatellites that will assist in gathering crucial data about the asteroid.
The nanosatellites, also known as CubeSats, will be deployed from the main Hera spacecraft to conduct close-up investigations of the asteroid. The CubeSats will closely observe the impact crater created by NASA’s DART spacecraft and measure the mass of the asteroid, information which is crucial to understanding how to deflect asteroids. The CubeSats will also test new technologies, such as inter-satellite link communication in deep space.
This contract represents a significant step forward for GomSpace, as it is the first time the company is contributing to a deep space exploration mission. The project also demonstrates the increasing importance of small satellites in space missions. The use of small satellites can significantly reduce the cost of space exploration and make it more accessible.
The Hera mission is scheduled for launch in 2024, with the impact on the asteroid expected to take place in 2026. The information gathered from this mission will provide valuable insight into the feasibility of asteroid deflection as a method of planetary defense.
The contract with GomSpace is part of a larger effort by the ESA to engage the European space industry in planetary defense, which also includes other contracts signed with numerous European companies. The aim is to build a robust and technologically advanced space industry in Europe to counter potential asteroid threats and advance space exploration.
Source link