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Giotto spacecraft

Giotto was ESA's first deep-space spacecraft design, adapted from the GEOS research-satellite bus for high-speed comet encounters. A compact spin-stabilized body, protected by a two-layer dust shield, carried the probe past Halley's nucleus and later through a second comet encounter at Grigg-Skjellerup.

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Identity

Aliases
Giotto comet probeGEOS-derived Giotto
Family Name
Giotto
Full Name
Giotto spacecraft
Roles
interplanetary_probeflyby
Status
retired
Type
spacecraft

Details

Description
Giotto was ESA's first deep-space spacecraft design, adapted from the GEOS research-satellite bus for high-speed comet encounters. A compact spin-stabilized body, protected by a two-layer dust shield, carried the probe past Halley's nucleus and later through a second comet encounter at Grigg-Skjellerup.
Dimensions
Diameter M
1.85
Height M
2.85
First Flight Year
1,985
Last Flight Year
1,985
Operator
Spacecraft Specs
Launch Mass Kg
960
Reusability
expendable

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Creation Time
July 29, 2026 at 09:30:23 UTC
Updated Time
July 29, 2026 at 09:30:23 UTC