Milani and Juventas Optical Navigation Images in Support of the Hera Radio Science Experiment

The European Space Agency’s Hera mission aims to advance planetary defense by investigating the Didymos binary asteroid system following NASA’s DART impact on Dimorphos. Incorporating simulated CubeSat images into Hera’s orbit determination framework significantly improves positional accuracy, reducing uncertainties by up to three orders of magnitude for Milani and one for Juventas. This data enable more precise estimation of key parameters such as asteroid masses, rotational states, and moments of inertia, with up to 90% uncertainty reduction in Dimorphos’ dynamical state under chaotic scenarios. Sensitivity analysis reveals the influence of pointing accuracy, image noise, and imaging frequency. Additionally, dedicated scientific investigations using Dimorphos-focused CubeSat images further advance understanding of the system. These findings underscore the critical role of CubeSat images in refining navigation and advancing science, offering valuable insights for future small-body missions.