Video: Rosetta scientist Matt Taylor on the end of mission

Loaded with three commercial satellites, a European Ariane 5 rocket returned to its launch pad in French Guiana Thursday after a two-week launch delay to resolve a technical issue that forced an abort to a countdown July 31. Arianespace says the mission has been rescheduled for launch Saturday due to unfavorable upper level winds in the forecast for Friday.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket soared into orbit Monday from Cape Canaveral with nearly three tons of hardware and supplies for the International Space Station.

A European Vega rocket crashed back to Earth shortly after launching from French Guiana carrying a Spanish land imaging satellite and a French research probe with a combined value of nearly $400 million.