Antonov Airlines, Ceva Logistics move a European satellite to U.S. launch site
Antonov Airlines, in partnership with Ceva Logistics, transported a 40-ton cargo, including the Hera spacecraft, from Cologne-Bonn, Germany, to Titusville, USA. The spacecraft, developed by the European Space Agency, is a crucial component of the agency’s space safety program.
The 40-ton cargo, including the Hera spacecraft, was loaded onto the Antonov aircraft using a combination of the back ramp and on-board cranes. Simultaneously, additional cargo was loaded through the front ramp. The Hera spacecraft, developed by the European Space Agency, was successfully delivered to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. It was subsequently launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket to study the aftermath of the DART mission.
The Hera spacecraft, weighing 1,128 kilograms, is equipped with a suite of scientific instruments, including cameras, an altimeter, and a spectrometer. It also carries two CubeSats, Milani and Juventas. The mission aims to comprehensively study the composition and internal structure of a binary asteroid system, marking a significant step in understanding these celestial bodies. Additionally, Hera will conduct technological demonstrations related to spacecraft operations in deep space, including the deployment and communication with CubeSats.
“That was an outstanding and extraordinary experience. The satellite, being a highly sensitive cargo, must have been carried with extreme caution. Our team must have kept the relevant levels of temperatures, G-forces and other conditions during the flight for smooth delivery. We also had to control the appropriate satellite parameters on the ground in every airport on the route, constantly,” said Eugene Kiva, Flight Manager, Antonov Airlines.
