A spacecraft is on its way to an asteroid 'crash scene investigation'

Two years ago, NASA rammed a spacecraft into an asteroid to change its course. A European mission is going to look at the pieces

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — A spacecraft blasted off Monday to investigate the scene of a cosmic crash.

The European Space Agency’s Hera spacecraft rocketed away on a two-year journey to the small, harmless asteroid rammed by NASA two years ago in a dress rehearsal for the day a killer space rock threatens Earth. Launched by SpaceX from Cape Canaveral, it’s the second part of a planetary defence test that could one day help save the planet.