Japan Exploring Our Solar System . . .
Sakigake and Suisei Visited Comet Halley
Satellites Rockets Surveying the Moon Exploring Planets
In 1986, the famous Comet Halley was in the inner Solar System close to Earth and the Sun. Japanese, Russian and European probes flew out from Earth for a close-up look at Comet Halley.
Japan's interplanetary probe Nozomi arrives at Mars in 2004 in an artist's view. Previously, Japan had launched Sakigake and Suisei in 1985 to observe Comet Halley.
Suisei and Sakigake were probes sent out by the Japanese Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS). The project was referred to as Planet-A.
[see: Planet-B]
Sakigake was launched first, on January 8, 1985. It flew by Comet Halley on March 11, 1986, at a speed of 168,441.3 mph. At that time, Sakigake was 79.98 million miles from the Sun. It flew within 3.73 million miles of the comet.
Suisei was launched second, on August 18, 1985. It flew by Comet Halley on March 8, 1986, at a speed of 163,296.3 mph. At that time, Sakigake was 76.26 million miles from the Sun. It flew within 93,827.05 miles of the comet.
Along the way, the Planet-A spacecraft observed the interplanetary space plasma.
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