Markus Mooslechner stands on a stage in front of a large screen displaying the quote "MARS Is Waiting" from the book The Martian. Dressed in a white turtleneck and dark jacket, they hold a small device. The backdrop features a starry space image, hinting at the future of space exploration as part of the Hera Space Companion initiative.Photos by HUMANBRAND / FEHRINGER
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Experience the Future of Space Exploration: Hera Space Companion & Microsoft AI Tour Vienna

Corporate Projects · March 2025

Hera Space Companion is changing how we experience space missions. Developed by Terra Mater Studios, built by Impact.AI, and powered by Microsoft, this AI-driven interface allows users to engage with ESA’s HERA mission in real-time. From mission updates to interactive Q&A, Hera Space Companion breaks down barriers between space science and the public. Now, for the first time, you can chat with a spacecraft.

Microsoft AI Tour Vienna: Showcasing Innovation

This groundbreaking technology was highlighted at the Microsoft AI Tour in Vienna, where experts explored how AI is transforming industries. At the Terra Mater Studios panel, key speakers—Ian Carnelli (European Space Agency), Markus Mooslechner (Terra Mater Studios), Anna-Marina Brunnhofer-Pedemonte (Impact AI), and Andreas Koop (Microsoft)—presented Hera Space Companion as a prime example of AI-driven innovation.

“For the first time in history, we’re giving space a voice.” – Markus Mooslechner, Terra Mater Studios

Ian Carnelli from ESA and Markus Mooslechner from Terra Mater Studios are standing on stage against a blue and purple backdrop at the Microsoft AI Tour. The person on the left is smiling in a dark sweater with a patch, while the person on the right has their arm around them, gesturing enthusiastically.

Ian Carnelli from ESA and Markus Mooslechner from Terra Mater Studios on stage against at the Microsoft AI Tour.

Hera’s Historic Mars Flyby – March 13

HERA, ESA’s planetary defense mission, will make history next week as it flies by Mars en route to study the Didymos-Dimorphos asteroid system. ESA’s Hera mission for planetary defense looks towards Mars from more than 4.5 million km away. Hera’s trajectory is taking it on a planned flyby of Mars with closest approach due on Tuesday, March 12. Mars’s gravity will shift the spacecraft’s trajectory towards its final destination of the Didymos binary asteroid system, shortening its trip by months and saving substantial fuel.

On March 13 at 12:00 PM CET, ESA will host a livestream revealing the first-ever Mars flyby images, followed by an exclusive panel featuring ESA astronaut Alexander Gerst and bestselling sci-fi author Andy Weir (The Martian, Project Hail Mary). They’ll demonstrate HERA Space Companion live, showing how AI is reshaping space exploration.

This Mars image was acquired by Hera’s Asteroid Framing Camera, a 1020x1020 black and white imager used for both navigation and science, on Wednesday 6 March 2025. Hera is moving towards Mars at a velocity of 9 km/s and will come to around 5000 km of the red planet’s surface. Hera’s flyby has been designed to take it close to Deimos, the smaller of Mars’s two moons. In the first scientific use of Hera’s instruments, the spacecraft will image Deimos from approaching 1000 km away.

This image was acquired by Hera’s Asteroid Framing Camera, a 1020×1020 black and white imager used for both navigation and science, on Wednesday 6 March 2025. Hera is moving towards Mars at a velocity of 9 km/s and will come to around 5000 km of the red planet’s surface. Hera’s flyby has been designed to take it close to Deimos, the smaller of Mars’s two moons. In the first scientific use of Hera’s instruments, the spacecraft will image Deimos from approaching 1000 km away.

Join the Future of Space Exploration!

🔴 Watch the ESA livestream: ESA’s YouTube Channel
💡 Try HERA Space Companion: hera.space

This is the future of science communication. Are you ready to experience it?