Europe Launches Hera Asteroid Probe On SpaceX Rocket For 2-Year Voyage

6 weeks ago In a historic leap towards safeguarding our planet, ESA's Hera mission embarked on its journey into space aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The launch, occurring on October 7 at 10:52 local time (16:52 CEST, 14:52 UTC), marks a significant milestone in humanity's quest for planetary defense. Hera, heralded as ESA's first venture into asteroid deflection, isn't just about studying an asteroid; it's about testing and refining our capabilities to protect Earth from potential cosmic threats.