[GioFX]

Lift-off delayed for European comet mission

KOUROU, French Guiana (AFP) Feb 26, 2004

European space officials on Thursday postponed the launch of the first-ever probe aimed at landing on the surface of a comet, putting off the lift-off for 24 hours due to high-altitude winds.
An Ariane 5 rocket had been due to lift off carrying the European spacecraft Rosetta, destined for a 10-year-mission to intercept the Churyumov-Gerasimenko, a cool 675 million kilometers (421 million miles) from the Sun.

The delay was announced by Mario de Lepine, spokesman for the Arianespace company which operates the Ariane rockets from the European space centre in Kourou, in France's south American territory of Guiana.

The "launch window" for the lift-off -- the period in which it is technically possible -- runs for 21 days from Thursday, officials said.