ESA’s Hera mission focuses on planetary defence, aiming to study the effects of asteroid impacts and develop strategies to protect Earth. To illustrate this goal, the mission adopted a cartoon dinosaur as its mascot, a reminder of the dinosaurs’ extinction following an asteroid strike.
Because dinosaurs lacked any space agency to defend them, the mascot highlights humanity’s advantage: we have ESA and other space organisations working actively on impact mitigation.
To give the mascot a personal touch, ESA has launched a public naming contest. Participants can submit name proposals, with the winner earning a spot at the November celebration marking Hera’s arrival at its target asteroid.
The initiative seeks to engage the public in space science while reinforcing the message of planetary defence. The winning name will be announced during the event, and the winner will receive a special place at the festivities.