Space and Astronomy Atlas

How The Universe Works
Sign In
Text size
100%
Theme
Missions and Programs

Giotto Mission

Robotic Outer Solar System and Small-Body Missions

The Giotto mission was a European robotic spacecraft mission of the European Space Agency to Halley's Comet. It was launched on an Ariane 1 rocket on July 2, 1985, from Kourou, French Guiana, and on March 13, 1986, approached the nucleus of Halley's Comet to a distance of 596 kilometres, making it the first spacecraft to make close-up observations of a comet. The spacecraft was named after the early Italian Renaissance painter Giotto di Bondone, who observed the comet in 1301 and painted it as the star of Bethlehem in the Scrovegni Chapel. It formed part of the international Halley Armada.

Facts
Mission Type
Mission Type (category)
Flyby Mission 1
Launch Date
1985-07-02 1
Connections

Operated By

Source Wikipedia - Giotto (spacecraft)

Spacecraft Of

Giotto, Spacecraft
Source Wikipedia - Giotto (spacecraft)
Sources
1. Wikipedia - Giotto (spacecraft)
  • Lead: mission type
    The spacecraft flew by and studied Halley's Comet
  • Lead or launch section: launch date
    The mission was launched on an Ariane 1 rocket (flight V14) on 2 July 1985 from Kourou, French Guiana.
  • Operated By: European Space Agency, Lead: agency
    Giotto is a European robotic spacecraft mission from the European Space Agency
  • Includes: Giotto, Lead: mission of the spacecraft (part-of)
    The spacecraft flew by and studied Halley's Comet
  • Spacecraft Of: Giotto, Lead: mission of the spacecraft (mission-of)
    The spacecraft flew by and studied Halley's Comet
  • In Group: Outer Solar System and Small-Body Missions of Other Agencies, Lead: kind of mission and sponsor
    The spacecraft flew by and studied Halley's Comet
View the Source
Comments (0)
No comments yet. Be the first to share a thought.
Reader Challenges (0)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.