Finding and Characterizing a Target for the Comet Interceptor Mission

Comet Interceptor is the first Fast (F-class) mission in ESA’s Cosmic Vision program. Its goal is the first in situ investigation of a long-period comet. Comet Interceptor (Spacecraft A) will carry two deployable probes, allowing multipoint investigations of the target. Probe B1 is contributed by JAXA and probe B2 by ESA. The mission will be launched in 2029 on an Ariane 6 towards the Sun-earth Lagrange point L2, together with the ARIEL mission. Comet Interceptor is the first rapid response mission, waiting in space at L2 until it will transfer to its target comet.

It is likely that the target comet for Comet Interceptor will be detected by LSST. To be reachable by Comet Interceptor, the comet needs to cross the ecliptic between 0.9 and 1.2 AU and be accessible with the available propellant. It is expected that a small number (1-5) of candidate targets for Comet Interceptor will be found before launch. To inform the target selection process, follow-up observations of the candidate targets will be required. Those include imaging (ideally in both the visible and thermal infrared wavelengths range) for determination of the nucleus size and rotation and detection and monitoring of activity and spectroscopy for gas production rates and composition.

We will present the Comet Interceptor mission and its needs for follow-up observations of candidate target objects to ensure a scientifically successful flyby.