Scientists will send a comet interceptor into space in 2029

By: Maksim Panasovskiy | 20.12.2022, 12:40

Scientists have sent a number of vehicles into space to search for and study comets. The most famous of them are Hayabusa2, Giotto, Rosetta and DART. But now experts are working on another device, which will help in the study of comets since 2029.

Here's What We Know

The apparatus is called a comet interceptor. German company OHB together with the European Space Agency (ESA) with the participation of the Japanese Space Agency (JAXA) are working on the device.

The comet interceptor will travel to Earth orbit and stay there while waiting for the target to appear. Once the comet is in its field of view, it will send several probes equipped with cameras to follow it. The institution from the Land of the Rising Sun will build one of these probes.

Probes will take several photos of the comet, based on which scientists will be able to create a 3D image. The interceptor is responsible for studying the composition and structure of the comet. In addition, it should take samples of gas and dust.

Source: Autoevolution