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You are here: Home / Space / Which Space Probes Were Sent To Observe Halley’s Comet and Why Was Giotto Knocked Out of the Comet’s Path?

Which Space Probes Were Sent To Observe Halley’s Comet and Why Was Giotto Knocked Out of the Comet’s Path?

February 25, 2020 by Karen Hill

An international fleet of probes were launched to intercept the orbit of Halley’s comet in 1986.

The Soviet Vega 1 probe was the first to reach its destination, on March 6, coming within 5,000 miles (8,000 km) of the comet’s nucleus.

Vega 2 arrived to take photos from a distance of 13,000 miles (21,000 km) 3 days later.

Vega 1 transmitted data that helped to ensure the success of the ESA’s Giotto probe, which reached the comet 7 days later.

On March 8, the Japanese probe Suisei passed Halley’s comet at a distance of 91,000 miles (146,000 km) in order to get a long view.

Also from Japan, the probe Sakigake was sent to study the comet’s tail.

Giotto’s mission was to fly directly into the comet’s coma and photograph it for as long as possible before it collided head-on with the nucleus.

The probe transmitted its live television footage almost to the point of impact.

Instead of a collision, however, the probe was knocked out of the comet’s path by a grain of dust weighing only 3 one-hundredths of an ounce (1 g).

An hour or so later, Giotto again began sending data as it flew past the comet.

Related Facts

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  • What Did the Soviet Vega Probes Achieve During Their Mission and When Did Vega 1 Reach Halley's Comet?
  • What Happens If Earth Passes Through a Comet's Tail and What Were The Superstitions Surrounding Halley's Comet?
  • What Space Probes Has NASA Sent To Study the Sun and What Is the Purpose of Orbital Solar Observatories?
  • Why Is a Comet's Tail Sometimes In Front of the Comet and How Big Was the Great Comet of 1811?
  • What Were the First Spiders Sent Into Space and Can Spiders Spin Webs In Zero Gravity In Space?

Filed Under: Space

About Karen Hill

Karen Hill is a freelance writer, editor, and columnist. Born in New York, her work has appeared in the Examiner, Yahoo News, Buzzfeed, among others.

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