New planetary defence mission blasts off to double asteroid system

Despite iffy weather conditions, the European Space Agency's Hera spacecraft blasted off to begin its two-year-long voyage to a double asteroid system beyond the orbit of Mars.

New planetary defence mission blasts off to double asteroid system
A square spacecraft with long, dark blue solar arrays is seen in space with stars.

Despite iffy weather conditions, the European Space Agency's Hera spacecraft blasted off to begin its two-year-long voyage to a double asteroid system beyond the orbit of Mars.