The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe’s gateway to space. Its mission is to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.
Find out more about space activities in our 23 Member States, and understand how ESA works together with their national agencies, institutions and organisations.
Exploring our Solar System and unlocking the secrets of the Universe
Go to topicProtecting life and infrastructure on Earth and in orbit
Go to topicUsing space to benefit citizens and meet future challenges on Earth
Go to topicMaking space accessible and developing the technologies for the future
Go to topicThank you for liking
You have already liked this page, you can only like it once!
Hera is only the latest in a series of ESA spacecraft exploring small bodies in the Solar System, with follow-up missions planned for the coming years. The first was Giotto, launched in 1985, which flew past Halley's Comet followed by a second target, Comet Grigg Skjellerup. Rosetta, launched in 2004, visited Comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko and deployed a lander.
Following Hera, due for launch in October 2024, the next ESA mission will be the proposed Ramses to be launched in 2028, which will rendezvous with the Apophis asteroid as it flies past Earth in 2029. The following year will see the launch of 2029, to investigate as yet undiscovered long period comet. Both Ramses and Comet Interceptor are derived from the Hera design, and both will carry a duo of smaller spacecraft for in-depth investigations. Then by the end of this decade, the suitcase-sized M-Argo CubeSat will make its way autonomously to a chosen asteroid to explore with a multispectral camera and laser altimeter.