Ariane 5 – Rosetta Liftoff is planned for Thursday, February 26, 2004

The Ariane 5-Rosetta launch campaign started in Kourou, French Guiana, onMonday, January 19, 2004.

Integration of the equipment bay and of the storable propellants stage (EPS) was carried out on Wednesday, January 21. The transfer of the launcher from the Launcher Integration Building (BIL) to the Final Assembly Building (BAF) is scheduled on Tuesday, February 10, and the roll-out to the launch pad on Tuesday, February 24.

The launch of the European Space Agency probe Rosetta is planned forThursday, February 26, 2004 at 7:16 a.m. GMT.

About Arianespace

Arianespace is the commercial launch services leader, holding more than 50 percent of the international market for satellites launched to geostationary transfer orbit (GTO).  Created in 1980 as the world’s first commercial space transportation company, Arianespace has signed contracts for the launch of more than 250 satellite payloads.  For further information, see the Arianespace Web site at www.arianespace.com.