A shoebox-sized satellite is ready to embark on a deep space journey to potentially save Planet Earth from killer asteroids.

The Milani CubeSat is ready to perform closeup mineral prospecting of Dimorphos, a small asteroid whose velocity was successfully altered in 2022 as part of NASA's DART mission.

Funded through the Italian Space Agency, the Milani CubeSat will be deployed into space as part of the payload of the Hera mission spacecraft. Milani will venture into deep space alongside Juventas for probing the asteroid.

They'll be the first CubeSats to land on an asteroid and the first European mini satellites to enter deep space.

ESA system engineer Franco Perez Lissi said, "ESA's first deep space CubeSat was developed in record time by an incredible team."

Scientists hope the mission will provide insights into the composition and behavior of asteroids that can help predict their paths, potential impact energy, and potential methods for deflection.

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