ESA missions to small bodies

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.