The Ariane-5 rocket lifts off from Kourou. After burnout of the lower stage, the spacecraft and upper stage remain in Earth parking orbit (4000 km x 200 km) for about two hours. Ariane's upper stage then ignites to boost Rosetta onto its interplanetary trajectory, before separating from the spacecraft.
 
 
 
2 Commissioning (January – April 2003):
 
The spacecraft deploys its solar arrays and turns toward the Sun. Over the next three months, all systems are checked and the scientific payload is commissioned. Rosetta then goes into a low activity mode for the cruise to Mars.
 
 

Rosetta will fly past Mars at a distance of about 200 km, obtaining some science observations

3 Mars Flyby (26 August 2005):
 
Rosetta flies past Mars at a distance of about 200 km, obtaining some science observations. An eclipse of the Earth by Mars lasts for about 37 minutes, causing a communications blackout.
 
 

First Earth Flyby - Rosetta will remain active during the cruise to Earth

4 First Earth Flyby (28 November 2005):
 
Rosetta remains active during the cruise to Earth. The flyby distance is about 4500 km. Operations mainly involve tracking and orbit determination. Orbit-correction manoeuvres take place before and after the flyby.
 
 

Otawara Flyby - The spacecraft goes into passive cruise mode on the way to asteroid Otawara

5 Otawara Flyby (11 July 2006):
 
The spacecraft goes into passive cruise mode on the way to asteroid Otawara. Rosetta observes the tiny asteroid from a distance of about 2200 km. Science data recorded onboard are transmitted to Earth after the flyby.
 
 

Second Earth Flyby - The spacecraft is once again in passive cruise mode prior to the second Earth gravity assist

6 Second Earth Flyby (28 November 2007):
 
The spacecraft is once again in passive cruise mode prior to the second Earth gravity assist. This time, Rosetta passes about 1370 km above our planet. Operations are similar to those during the first Earth flyby.
 
 

Siwa Flyby - Once again, the spacecraft is put back into passive cruise mode on its way to the large asteroid Siwa

7 Siwa Flyby (24 July 2008):
 
Once again, the spacecraft is put back into passive cruise mode on its way to the large asteroid Siwa. Flyby operations are similar to the Otawara flyby, although at a greater distance (about 3500 km).
 
 

Deep Space Hibernation and Comet Rendezvous

8 Deep Space Hibernation and Comet Rendezvous
(June 2009 – November 2011):
 
After a large deep-space manoeuvre, the spacecraft goes into hibernation. During this period, Rosetta records its maximum distances from the Sun (about 800 million km) and Earth (about 1 billion km). The spacecraft is reactivated prior to the comet-rendezvous manoeuvre, during which the thrusters fire for several hours to slow the relative drift rate of the spacecraft and comet to about 25 m/s.