Comet Interceptor

The Comet Interceptor is a robotic spacecraft mission led by the European Space Agency (ESA) planned for launch in 2029. The spacecraft will be "parked" at the Sun-Earth L2 point and wait for up to three years for a long-period comet to fly by at a reachable trajectory and speed.

Comet Interceptor
Mission typeComet flyby
OperatorESA / JAXA
Websitewww.cometinterceptor.space/mission.html
Mission duration≈ 5 years
Spacecraft properties
SpacecraftComet Interceptor
Launch massApprox. 850 kg (1,870 lb).
Start of mission
Launch date2029 (planned)
RocketAriane 62
Launch siteKourou ELA-4
ContractorArianespace
Flyby of a long-period comet
yet to be selected
 

The Principal Investigator is Geraint Jones, from the Mullard Space Science Laboratory in the United Kingdom. The maximum cost of the spacecraft bus is set at €150M, excluding science instruments and launch services.

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