The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe’s gateway to space. Its mission is to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.
Find out more about space activities in our 22 Member States, and understand how ESA works together with their national agencies, institutions and organisations.
Exploring our Solar System and unlocking the secrets of the Universe
Go to topicProtecting life and infrastructure on Earth and in orbit
Go to topicUsing space to benefit citizens and meet future challenges on Earth
Go to topicMaking space accessible and developing the technologies for the future
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Rosetta’s 12 year expedition begins in February 2004, with an Ariane-5 launch from Kourou in French Guiana. The three-tonne spacecraft will first be inserted into a parking orbit, before being sent on its way towards the outer Solar System.
Comet Approach: as Rosetta drifts towards the heart of the comet, the mission team will try to achieve good comet illumination conditions, in order to study the dynamic properties of the comet in great detail: the first camera images will dramatically improve calculations of the comet’s position and orbit, as well as its size, shape and rotation. The relative velocities of the spacecraft and comet will gradually be reduced, slowing to 2 m/s after about 90 days.