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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The Giotto space probe, launched in 1985 on an Ariane 1 V14 launcher, brushed past the hidden nucleus of Halley's comet in 1986.Its camera recorded many images that gave scientists an unique opportunity ( the comet would not pass close to the Earth again until 2061) to increase their knowledge of Halley,and in particular to determine the consistency of its matter through the analyses made by the probe as it passed through the comet's tail. Though damaged by the multiple impacts, Giotto carried on with its mission. After a period of hibernation, it was reactived in 1990 for a fresh task - overflying the comet Grigg-Skjellerup on 10 July 1992. Giotto is thus the first probe that has ever met two comets.