On Oct. 7, Hera, the European Space Agency's first "planetary defense spacecraft," was successfully launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, riding aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. ESA has tasked Hera with investigating the aftermath of NASA’s DART (Double Asteroid Redirection Test) mission, which altered the orbit of the asteroid Dimorphos in 2022.

The spacecraft, along with two cubesats (named Milani and Juventas), will assess the impact crater and study Dimorphos’ surface and internal structure, as well as the gravity conditions, with the goal of improving planetary defense strategies. Beyond the unique mission it has been tasked with, Hera is another space exploration mission that reflects the growing trend that has emerged in recent years where government agencies are increasingly relying on private companies for space launches and missions.

Kevin Lausten, President of German spacecraft electric propulsion system provider Morpheus Space, is the guest on this this episode of Season 5 of the Aerospace & Defense Technology podcast. Austen breaks down the Hera mission and also discusses future trends to watch in space mobility. Season 5 of the podcast features interviews focused on next generation satellite and space technology.