New Mission Will Target Halley's Comet in 2060
Researchers propose a complex spacecraft rendezvous to study the comet's nucleus up close.
Updated on Sept. 19, 2026 in Space
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A newly proposed mission seeks to reach Halley's Comet by 2060, following a decades-long journey. The project aims to provide sustained observations of the nine-mile-long object as it approaches its next perihelion.
Why it matters
A dedicated rendezvous allows for long-term study of the comet's nucleus and activity, marking a significant advancement over the high-speed flybys conducted in 1986.
The mission concept requires a 23-year travel duration utilizing low-thrust electric propulsion. It hinges on gravity assists from Jupiter and Saturn to navigate the comet's 162-degree orbital inclination.
The players
European Space Agency
This intergovernmental organization is dedicated to the exploration of space and was a key participant in the 1986 Halley's Comet mission.
Soviet Union
This former transcontinental state operated the space programs that conducted initial flybys of the comet during its 1986 appearance.
The details
The spacecraft would launch in 2036 or 2037 to intercept the comet on August 14, 2060. Unlike the 1986 Giotto encounter, which passed the comet at 43 to 50 miles per second, this mission seeks a slow, sustained approach to the five-mile-wide nucleus.
Timeline
240 BC: Date of the first confirmed sighting of Halley's Comet.
March 13-14, 1986: Giotto spacecraft flew 370 miles from the comet.
2036: Proposed launch window for the new mission.
2060: Scheduled rendezvous date with the comet.
July 28, 2061: Date the comet reaches its next perihelion.
The Big Picture
The proposed mission extends the scientific objectives established by the 1986 Giotto mission to Halley's Comet. By moving from a high-speed flyby to a long-term rendezvous, it shifts the focus from ephemeral snapshots to sustained, detailed observation of cometary evolution.
This mission could provide unprecedented data on the composition of primordial solar system objects. Such findings may eventually inform how we study hazardous near-Earth objects and space resource extraction.
The takeaway
This proposed mission represents the next logical step in cometary science by prioritizing a sustained presence near the nucleus. Readers interested in the history of space travel should monitor the technological advancements in electric propulsion needed to make this 2060 rendezvous possible.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest research and missions in Space.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Forbes.
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