Hera with us: planetary defence in Presicce

Could humanity prevent a dangerous asteroid from reaching Earth? The answer matters to every person on this planet. On 26 September, I am bringing ESA’s Hera mission to Palazzo Ducale in Presicce so that young people can explore that question through science, play, and direct observation of the sky.

A mission for the whole planet

In 2022, NASA’s DART spacecraft deliberately struck Dimorphos and changed its orbit. It was humanity’s first full-scale test of asteroid deflection. ESA’s Hera spacecraft is now travelling to the Didymos system to examine the result in detail and turn a successful experiment into knowledge we could use again.

This makes Hera much more than a journey to two distant asteroids. It is a major European contribution to planetary defence: the scientific work required to understand whether we could act in time if an asteroid were ever on a collision course with Earth.

Terra Mater Studios proposed a new way to open this mission to the public. Together with the company I work for, I built the digital experience for Hera Companion: an AI companion that lets anyone join the crew, receive a mission badge, speak with Hera by text or voice, explore the spacecraft in 3D, follow near-live telemetry and orbital position, preview the encounter, and meet the scientists and engineers behind the mission.

Why bring Hera to Presicce

I was born and raised in Presicce-Acquarica, studied in Turin, worked in Vienna, and eventually returned to Salento. From here, I helped build a digital experience around one of Europe’s most consequential space missions. Having Hera with us gives that global work a real point of contact with the place where my own story began.

Young people should not encounter space exploration as something distant that only happens elsewhere. In Presicce, they will meet a living mission already travelling through space, discover the people and ideas moving it forward, and see that international science and technology can connect directly with their own lives.

An encounter with science and possibility

During the event, participants will investigate asteroid deflection through experiments, a planetary-defence game, the Hera Companion, and observation of the Moon. They will discover what DART changed, what Hera needs to measure, and why collaboration between missions, countries, scientists, engineers, and communicators matters when the goal concerns the whole planet.

Videos recorded during the event will also be prepared for ESA’s official social channels. A local afternoon in Presicce will therefore become part of the public story of a mission with global significance.

I hope this is the first of many opportunities to bring ambitious international work into direct contact with this community. The message for young people and their families is simple: the future is not far away. Sometimes a spacecraft crossing the Solar System can help us see that it already reaches all the way home.

Join us in Presicce

Hera with us takes place on Saturday 26 September 2026, from 18:00 to 21:00, in the Throne Room and Hanging Gardens of Palazzo Ducale, Presicce. Participation is for young people aged 11–14 and places are limited.