upcoming missionTBD

Ariane 64 | Comet Interceptor

ArianespaceAriane Launch Area 4 — Guiana Space Centre, French GuianaAug 31, 2028, 00:00 UTC

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Current date is a placeholder or rough estimation based on unreliable or interpreted sources.

mission

Name: Comet Interceptor
Type: Planetary Science
Target orbit: Heliocentric N/A (Helio-N/A)

ESA's Comet Interceptor consists of three spacecraft which will be positioned at the Sun-Earth Lagrange point L2, where they will wait for a long-period comet or an interstellar object to come by. Once the desired target appears, the spacecraft will separate and perform a flyby of the target, compiling a detailed 3D profile of a comet.

schedule

NET (no earlier than): Aug 31, 2028, 00:00 UTC
Window opens: Aug 31, 2028, 00:00 UTC
Window closes: Aug 31, 2028, 00:00 UTC
Last updated: Jan 14, 2026, 18:56 UTC

vehicle & provider

Rocket: Ariane 64
Family: Ariane
Variant: 64
Provider: Arianespace
Type: Commercial
Country: FRA

launch site

Pad: Ariane Launch Area 4
Location: Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana
Country: GUF
Timezone: America/Cayenne
Coordinates: 5.2563, -52.7868