Giotto

ESA1985-1992Comet flybyAriane 1Europe

AgencyESA

Year1985-1992

TypeComet flyby

RocketAriane 1

CountryEurope

About the Mission

Flew within 596 km of the nucleus of comet Halley in March 1986, the first close look at a comet. Was sandblasted by dust at 68 km per second yet survived to transmit. Its camera revealed a nucleus darker than coal. Later flew past a second comet, Grigg-Skjellerup. Named for the painter who depicted the comet of 1301.

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