[GioFX]

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2004

The Rosetta comet probe that will embark on its long-awaited journey next week was attached to its Ariane 5 launcher Monday inside a cavernous assembly building at the South American launch site.

Fully fueled with over 3,600 pounds of toxic maneuvering propellant, Rosetta was lowered atop the Ariane 5's upper stage inside the final assembly building at the Guiana Space Center in Kourou, located along South America's northeast Atlantic coast.

The milestone was one met with great anticipation by project officials, with just ten days remaining until Rosetta is placed into solar orbit to begin a voyage to comet Churyumov-Gerasimenko that will span over a decade.

Sitting in a Kourou high bay for the past year after officials elected to opt out of a launch opportunity in 2003 due to rocket concerns, Rosetta began the run-up to a second launch campaign last fall with the testing of key equipment.

Assembly operations for the Ariane 5G+ rocket began January 19, and the vehicle's upper stage was attached January 21. Fueling of the spacecraft with its volatile load of fuel and oxidizer propellant took place over January 27 and 28.

With its twin solid rocket boosters now bolted on, the Ariane 5 rolled out of its launcher integration building February 10 for the half-hour ride on dual rail tracks to the final assembly building where it would soon receive its payload.

With Rosetta now firmly in place atop the Ariane 5 stack, the payload fairing will be attached to enclose the probe for protection during the few minutes of ascent through the atmosphere.

The completed rocket will roll out to the launch pad February 24, in advance of the anticipated liftoff February 26 at 0716 GMT (2:16 a.m. EST) from the ELA-3 pad in Kourou.

Stay with Spaceflight Now for continued updates and extensive coverage of the launch of Rosetta next week.