Hera’s radar CubeSat will peer into asteroid’s heart (esa.int)

• Miniaturized radar payload sets a new benchmark in space instrumentation.
• Independent CubeSat maneuvering enhances close-proximity research capabilities.
• Advanced structural probing crucial for future planetary defense modeling.

"The ESA Hera mission features a dedicated CubeSat equipped with the smallest radar instrument ever deployed in deep space. Designed for planetary defense, this autonomous mini-spacecraft will maneuver closer to target asteroids than the primary vessel, utilizing low-frequency radar to map internal density and composition. This mission marks a technical milestone in miniaturizing complex diagnostic hardware, providing critical data on the structural integrity of near-Earth objects that could threaten planetary security."