What Does GEM Stand For?
GEM stands for Giotto Extended Mission
The Gem (Giotto Extended Mission) refers to the follow-up phase of the original Giotto spacecraft mission, which was launched by the European Space Agency (ESA) to study Halley’s Comet in 1986. The Extended Mission aimed to leverage the spacecraft's remaining capabilities to explore additional celestial bodies, including the Comet Grigg-Skjellerup and asteroids, enhancing our understanding of cometary and asteroidal properties and dynamics. Through this mission, additional data were collected on the solar system's material composition and the behavior of comets, contributing significantly to planetary science and cometary research.
Added on 14th April 2008 | Last edited on 16th June 2025 | Edit Acronym