Mission Status and Plan

Comet Interceptor was adopted on 8 June 2022 and is now in development phase. It will be launched as part of a dual launch in 2028/29.

Main mission milestones and phases

As of November 2025, the mission miletstones and plan are as follows:

Event / Phase Date / Duration
Call for F-class mission:  July 2018
Mission selected:  June 2019
Mission analysis and identification (Phase 0):  July - December 2019
Feasibility and Preliminary Definition (Phase A/B):  September 2020 - June 2022
Spacecraft  and instrument Preliminary Design Reviews:  June 2022
Mission adoption:  June 2022
Industrial prime approval:  October 2022
Development phase:  2023 - 2028  
Instruments Critical Design Review:  November 2023
Spacecraft Critical Design Review:  December 2024
Development phase:  2023 - 2028
Planned Launch:  2028/29
Cruise to L2:  1 - 6 months
Wait at L2:  0 - 5 years
Cruise to target:  6 months - 3 years
Target encounter:  TBD
End of operations:  Encounter + 6 months

 

Comet Interceptor (Comet-I) is a ‘Fast’ (F-) development mission in the ESA’s Science Program.  The Call for an F-class mission was issued by ESA in July 2018. The mission was selected in June 2019, undergoing a phase 0 study in the second half of 2019 and phase A/B in the time frame Sep 2020 - June 2022.

The spacecraft and the instruments passed their Preliminary Design Reviews in June 2022. The mission was adopted by ESA's Science Programme Committee on 8 June 2022. The Industrial Policy Committee approved the selection of a consortium led by OHB as Comet Interceptor prime industrial contractor on 6 October 2022.

The instruments passed their Critical Design Review in Nov. 2023. The spacecraft Critical Design Review was passed in December 2024.

After launch, Comet Interceptor will be parked into a halo orbit around the Lagrange point (equilibrium point) L2. It will wait there until it starts its transfer to encounter the target comet. The flyby will then take place when the comet crosses the ecliptic plane.