Back Giotto (sonda espacial) AN جيوتو (مسبار فضائي) Arabic Джота (касмічны апарат) Byelorussian Джото (космически апарат) Bulgarian Giotto (sonda) Catalan Giotto (sonda) Czech Giotto (rumsonde) Danish Giotto (Raumsonde) German Giotto (sonda espacial) Spanish Giotto misioa Basque
 | This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (April 2019) |
&sq=Facebook&lang=en&file=File:Giotto_spacecraft.jpg) Artist's concept of the Giotto spacecraft encountering Halley's Comet | |
| Mission type | Cometary flyby |
|---|---|
| Operator | European Space Agency |
| COSPAR ID | 1985-056A |
| SATCAT no. | 15875 |
| Website | www.esa.int |
| Mission duration | 7 years, 21 days |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft type | GEOS |
| Manufacturer | British Aerospace |
| Launch mass | 960 kg[1] |
| Power | 196 W |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 11:23:00, 2 July 1985 (UTC) |
| Rocket | Ariane 1 V-14 |
| Launch site | Kourou ELA-1 |
| Contractor | Arianespace |
| End of mission | |
| Disposal | Decommissioned |
| Deactivated | 23 July 1992 |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Heliocentric[2] |
| Eccentricity | 0.17334 |
| Perihelion altitude | 0.73 AU |
| Aphelion altitude | 1.04 AU |
| Inclination | 2.09° |
| Period | 304.6 days |
| Epoch | 10 July 1992, 15:18:43 UTC |
| Flyby of 1P/Halley | |
| Closest approach | 14 March 1986 |
| Distance | 596 km (370 mi) |
| Flyby of Earth | |
| Closest approach | 2 July 1990 |
| Distance | 22,730 km (14,120 mi) |
| Flyby of 26P/Grigg-Skjellerup | |
| Closest approach | 10 July 1992 |
| Distance | 200 km (120 mi) |
| Flyby of Earth | |
| Closest approach | 1999 |
| Distance | ~1,000 km (620 mi) |
&sq=Facebook&lang=en&file=File:Giotto_insignia.png) Legacy ESA insignia for the Giotto mission | |
Giotto was a European robotic spacecraft mission from the European Space Agency. The spacecraft flew by and studied Halley's Comet and in doing so became the first spacecraft to make close up observations of a comet. On 13 March 1986, the spacecraft succeeded in approaching Halley's nucleus at a distance of 596 kilometers. It was named after the Early Italian Renaissance painter Giotto di Bondone. He had observed Halley's Comet in 1301 and was inspired to depict it as the star of Bethlehem in his painting Adoration of the Magi in the Scrovegni Chapel.