Comet-chaser spacecraft launched The European Space Agency successfully launched its Rosetta spacecraft on 2 March, the beginning of what is hoped will be a 10-year journey that will provide information about the origins of the solar system, by placing a lander on the nucleus of comet 67/P Churyumov-Gerasimenko. Rosetta was launched from the ESA's facility at Kourou, French Guiana.