Brussels, 02/03/2004 (Agence Europe) - The "Rosetta" probe into space was launched today from the Kourou base in French Guyana. Rosetta will travel in the solar system for ten years to meet up with the Comet Churyumov-Gerasimenko. The probe will find out more about comet nuclei, will take images of the comet itself and release a lander onto its surface. For the first time in history, a comet travelling sunwards will be investigated from close quarters. Rosetta was developed as part of a European Space Agency programme and was built by an industrial team involving more than 50 contractors from 14 European countries and the United States.
On this occasion, Commissioner Philippe Busquin said: "The launch of Rosetta from the European Space Port in French Guyana shows what Europe is capable of in space: the ability to send an interplanetary probe into space to land on a comet in 2014. This has never been undertaken before. Science and exploratory missions are of great importance to maintaining Europe's leading role in space. Alongside the upcoming integration of the Russian "Soyouz" rockets in Kourou, we take another step towards becoming a globally responsible space power".