Scientists Plan an Unprecedented Rendezvous With Halley’s Comet

A bold mission concept could give humanity its first extended rendezvous with Halley’s Comet during its 2061 return.

Using Hall-effect thrusters and gravity assists from Jupiter and Saturn, a spacecraft launched in 2036 or 2037 could arrive early and study the comet for months as it approaches the Sun. The mission could reveal unprecedented details about Halley’s surface, nucleus, and transformation.

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