Rosetta’s 10 year expedition will begin in January 2003, 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.
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.