Goals: The ambitious twin-spacecraft Vega project aimed to deliver advanced lander modules on Venus, study the planet's atmosphere with balloons and then fly on for a close encounter with comet Halley.

Accomplishments: The spacecraft transmitted 700 pictures of Halley's comet, which were of greater clarity than those of Vega 1, probably because it encountered less dust. However, Vega 2 sustained considerably more damage than its twin during the flyby. Seven instruments were damaged, though none were incapacitated.