The Giotto mission was an ambitious space probe project launched by the European Space Agency (ESA) to study the nucleus of Comet Halley. Here is an overview of the mission:
Comet Halley, named after the astronomer Edmond Halley, is one of the most famous comets and has been observed since at least 240 BC. Its regular return to the inner Solar System every 75-76 years makes it a significant object for scientific study. The Giotto mission was part of a larger international effort known as the Halley Armada, which involved spacecraft from various space agencies around the world.
The primary objectives of the Giotto mission were:
The spacecraft was equipped with several instruments to achieve its objectives:
On March 14, 1986, Giotto flew within approximately 596 kilometers of Comet Halley's nucleus, becoming the first spacecraft to make a close-up observation of a comet's nucleus. This close flyby provided unprecedented images and data, revealing that the nucleus was dark, roughly potato-shaped, and had an active surface.
After its primary mission, Giotto was put into hibernation. In 1992, it was reactivated for a flyby of Comet Grigg-Skjellerup, making it the first spacecraft to encounter two different comets. This extended mission was known as Giotto Extended Mission.
The Giotto mission officially ended in 1992 when contact with the spacecraft was lost after the encounter with Comet Grigg-Skjellerup.
The Giotto mission significantly advanced our understanding of comets, providing direct evidence of their composition and behavior. The data collected helped refine models of comet nuclei and their interaction with the solar wind.