The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe’s gateway to space. Its mission is to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.
Find out more about space activities in our 23 Member States, and understand how ESA works together with their national agencies, institutions and organisations.
Exploring our Solar System and unlocking the secrets of the Universe
Go to topicProtecting life and infrastructure on Earth and in orbit
Go to topicUsing space to benefit citizens and meet future challenges on Earth
Go to topicMaking space accessible and developing the technologies for the future
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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.