\<COLOUR 1> CLOSEST APPROACH: \<COLOUR 0> To Comet Halley - 8,890 km, March 6, 1986
\<COLOUR 1> COUNTRY: \<COLOUR 0> USSR
\<COLOUR 1> COMMENTS: \<COLOUR 0> First of two identical spacecraft, based on the Venera design, to travel to Comet Halley, via Venus; the bus (main craft) releases lander and balloon probe at Venus and continues to Halley; the first of five craft to encounter Halley; Vega 2, launched December 21, 1984, reaches Venus on June 15, 1985, and flies by Halley at a distance of about 8,000 km on March 9, 1986.