Comet Interceptor’s journey

ESA’s Comet Interceptor will be the first mission to visit a comet coming directly from the outer reaches of the Sun's realm, carrying material untouched since the dawn of the Solar System.

Such objects are difficult to get close to because we can only detect them when they fly near the Sun, leaving little time to plan and launch a mission. That’s why, after launch, Comet Interceptor will first be 'parked' in space. While waiting, the spacecraft will orbit around the Sun-Earth Lagrange point L2, a stable gravitational point located 1.5 million kilometres directly 'behind' the Earth as viewed from the Sun.

When a suitable pristine comet is detected by Earth-based telescopes, Comet Interceptor will travel to meet it. Once at the intercept location, the main spacecraft will release two probes to observe the comet from multiple directions at the same time.

Comet Interceptor is an ESA-led mission in collaboration with JAXA.