The DART (Double Asteroid Redirection Test) and HERA missions are part of an international planetary defence collaboration between the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the European Space Agency (ESA). DART, launched by NASA in 2021, was the first mission to test asteroid deflection by kinetic impact. It successfully collided with Dimorphos, the moonlet of the binary asteroid Didymos, in September 2022, altering its orbit—a historic demonstration of asteroid redirection. Following DART, ESA's HERA mission, scheduled to arrive at the Didymos system in 2026, will perform a detailed post-impact survey. HERA will analyse the crater left by DART, measure the mass of Dimorphos, and study the binary system's dynamics to refine models of impact-based deflection.

Prerequisites:

• Satellite manufacturing capabilities

• Ground segment capabilities

• Secure necessary orbital slots and frequency bands internationally for satellite operations

• Spectrum policy & coordination with telecom regulator; ITU procedures where applicable

• Lead agency & budget

• Procurement pathway

• Partner support as needed

Cost:

• Ballpark: USD 50M–500M (depending on satellite class, payload complexity, and constellation size) + USD 5M–20M/yr (operations)

• Includes: spacecraft bus and payload development (optical telescopes, cameras, laser ranging, onboard processors), assembly/integration/testing (AIT) and environmental testing, launch and insurance, mission control and data processing systems, staff training, integration into national SSA/STM frameworks, and technology demonstrations for debris monitoring or proximity operations

In the use case illustrated the cost of DART and HERA was found to be around USD 400M for each mission 

Timeframe:

• Overall: 48–96 mo

• Phase: feasibility & requirements definition (12–18 mo), spacecraft and payload design (12–24 mo), AIV & testing (18–30 mo), launch & commissioning (6–12 mo), operational data exploitation and technology demonstration (12–24 mo)

Pros:

• Non-Dependence - Fosters Technological independence

• Sovereignty - Ensures sovereign access to Space Debris data

Considerations:

• High Upfront Costs - The project requires substantial initial investment, posing funding risks

• Long Timeline - Focusing on domestic development without using foreign technology may prolong the development process.