The Vega program, launched by the Soviet Union in the early 1980s, aimed to conduct detailed studies of Halley's Comet and Venus. Vega 1, one of the two spacecraft in the mission, was launched on December 15, 1984, and traveled through the solar system for over a year. On March 4, 1986, Vega 1 made its closest approach to Halley's Comet, just 8,890 kilometers from its nucleus. This marked an astonishing moment in space exploration, as the spacecraft began returning images that showcased the comet's nucleus for the very first time.

The Vega 1's telescopic camera captured detailed images of Halley's Comet's surface, revealing a landscape of roughly-structured features, intriguing dark patches, and bright areas, indicative of the materials comprising the comet. These images, characterized by varying brightness and textures, significantly deepened scientists' understanding of how comets behave when they near the sun. The data collected by Vega 1 and its twin, Vega 2, revolutionized the field of cometary science, as it represented the first time that humanity had the ability to closely observe a comet on such a scale.

In addition to imaging the nucleus, Vega 1 also conducted measurements of the comet's coma and tail, providing critical information regarding the gases and particles emitted. The data garnered from both Vega missions enriched the comprehensive analysis of Halley's Comet, which had fascinated astronomers for centuries due to its periodic appearances, and continued to inform our knowledge of these celestial phenomena long after the mission concluded.