Small-body mission · ESA / JAXA

Comet Interceptor

An ESA (with JAXA) fast-class mission that will wait at the Sun–Earth L2 point for a suitable target, then fly by a pristine, dynamically-new comet — ideally one entering the inner Solar System for the first time, or even an interstellar object.

PlannedFlyby Mission

Targets & sample

Also:A dynamically-new comet or interstellar object, to be selected after launch

Mission & science

Goals: Perform the first flyby of a truly pristine, long-period comet using a stored, ready-to-launch spacecraft.
Engineering milestones: Launch planned for the late 2020s; the target will be chosen once a suitable comet is found.
Outcome: Planned — not yet launched.
Known limitations: A planned mission with no fixed target yet.

Knowledge connections

Member of groupFlyby Mission
Operated byESA
Member of groupSmall Bodies & Planetary Defense

Sources

Facts on this topic will be cited from these primary and reference sources.

ESAEuropean Space Agency
European missions, observatories, and space science imagery.

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