Hera spacecraft captures images of Earth and Moon after successful launch to study asteroid Dimorphos

The European Space Agency's Hera mission successfully launched on October 7, 2024, to study the asteroid Dimorphos. It recently completed its Near-Earth Commissioning Phase, capturing images of Earth and the Moon from about one million kilometers away. Hera's instruments include the Asteroid Framing Camera, Thermal Infrared Imager, and Hyperscout H. These tools provide new perspectives and test the spacecraft's capabilities, although the images of Earth and the Moon are not expected to yield significant scientific insights. The mission will continue to gather data as it approaches Dimorphos, with a planned arrival in December 2026. Hera carries additional instruments, including CubeSats and a laser rangefinder, which will be deployed during the mission.