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
Imagery
The Comet Interceptor OPIC instrument with labelled components
The Comet Interceptor OPIC instrument with labelled components – periscope and mirror, lens with 18.3° × 18.3° field of view, bandpass filter, camera module, power connector, interfaces and the dust shield.
Comet Interceptor / OPIC / UT Tartu Observatory (Pajusalu et al.) · CC BY
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
The primary and reference sources this topic draws on.
- ESAEuropean Space Agency
European missions, observatories, and space science imagery.