Rosetta warms up for Mars swing-by

Rosetta’s 11-year expedition began in March 2004, with an Ariane-5 launch from Kourou in French Guiana. The three-tonne spacecraft was first inserted into a parking orbit around Earth, before being sent on its way towards the outer Solar System. Mars Fly-by (February 2007): Rosetta flies past Mars at a distance of about 250 kilometres, obtaining some science observations. An eclipse of the Earth by Mars lasts for about 25 minutes, causing a communications blackout. Credits: ESA/AOES Medialab