VIENNA. From the first steps on the moon with Apollo 11 to the glimpses into the depths of the universe through the Hubble Space Telescope – humanity has always been fascinated by space. The Hera mission, a collaboration between the European Space Agency (ESA), Impact AI, Terra Mater Studios and Microsoft Austria, now makes space travel tangible for everyone – thanks to interactive AI assistance that provides insights from space in real time.
Protection of the earth as a goal
Hera is part of the world’s first asteroid defense test mission, known as “Planetary Defense”, carried out in close cooperation with JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) and NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration). The mission’s goal is to validate asteroid deflection technologies to protect Earth from potential cosmic threats. Asteroid impacts have occurred again and again throughout Earth’s history: The question is not whether such an impact will occur in the future, but when. Building an effective planetary defense system is therefore of great importance.
To respond to these challenges, the Hera mission builds on the findings of the DART mission. In September 2022, NASA conducted a test in which a spacecraft was specifically directed to Dimorphos, the moon of the binary asteroid Didymos. The test showed that it is possible to divert asteroids from their collision course with Earth. However, the impact of the impact was surprisingly large and posed new questions to science: Why was the effect so strong? And what can we learn from the nature of asteroids?
To find answers to these questions, ESA is now relying on the Hera mission, which launched in October 2024. This project aims to analyze the results of the DART mission in more depth and translate them into asteroid defense technologies. Hera will be the first space probe to explore a binary asteroid system consisting of two closely orbiting asteroids, testing technologies that could protect humanity from future disasters.
“The Hera mission is more than just a step in planetary defense: it shows how technology allows us to make scientific knowledge accessible to all. With this mission, we are bringing the fascination of space directly into people’s lives and inviting them to actively participate in this discovery,” explains Ian Carnelli, mission manager at ESA.
Space travel for everyone
The Hera mission goes beyond its role in planetary defense: it enables people around the world to be part of a significant scientific endeavor.
At the heart of this mission is the Hera Space Companion, an AI-powered assistant that offers a new dimension of interactivity. Users can actively engage with the spacecraft, track discoveries in real time, and gain a behind-the-scenes look at the space mission. The Hera Space Companion brings science directly to people, while the space probe fulfills its mission millions of kilometers from Earth.
Thanks to the platform supported by Microsoft Azure, this form of interactivity is made possible. The intelligent assistant processes user requests and accesses the latest scientific data from ESA. This means people receive accurate and timely answers that not only provide insight into the mission, but also the latest in space research.
“Hera represents a new form of science communication,” says Markus Mooslechner, concept developer and producer at Terra Mater Studios. “It brings the fascination of space travel directly to people and transforms access to science into a shared experience that everyone can understand.”
Beginning of a new era
The Hera mission not only represents progress in planetary defense, but could also mark the beginning of a new era in the exchange of scientific knowledge. The Hera Space Companion approach has great potential in other scientific disciplines, such as climate research or earth observation, because it makes science tangible and accessible.
“With Hera, we have shown that science can be accessible and exciting for everyone,” says Hermann Erlach, General Manager of Microsoft Austria. “This project shows that AI not only offers solutions to today’s challenges, but also has the potential to fundamentally change the way we acquire and share knowledge.”
