ESA (unofficial)

Inflight call with ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot

Surface CubeSat contracted for Ramses asteroid mission

The European Space Agency has contracted Spanish company EMXYS for the first CubeSat designed to operate on the surface of an asteroid. Don Quijote is a shoebox-sized spacecraft that will be deployed onto the Apophis asteroid by ESA’s Ramses mission before the asteroid flies by Earth on 13 April 2029.

Earth from Space: Venetian Lagoon

This image of the Venetian Lagoon in northern Italy was acquired by the IRIDE satellites on 17 May 2026.

Join ESA for a total solar eclipse on 12 August 2026

Follow the total solar eclipse with the European Space Agency (ESA), in person or online. Quick links: - Overview of ESA eclipse activities & resources - Event programme in León, Spain (12 August, 10:00–14:00 and 17:30–21:45 CEST)- How to watch live from home (12 August, 19:30–20:45 CEST)

Solar Orbiter tracks origin of mysterious magnetic switchbacks

The European Space Agency-led Solar Orbiter spacecraft has flown through an S-shaped kink known as a ‘switchback’ in the solar wind’s magnetic field. By fingerprinting the elusive particles within the switchback, Solar Orbiter has traced its origin back to the Sun’s surface and revealed more about solar magnetism – the unruly instigator of dangerous solar storms.

Earth from Space: Namibia’s biggest salt pan

This image from Copernicus Sentinel-2, acquired on 5 April 2026, shows the Etosha National Park in northern Namibia.

Time to say goodbye to Sentinel-1A

After 12 years of exceptional service, the pioneering Copernicus Sentinel-1A radar satellite has reached the end of its mission. Originally designed for a seven-year life in orbit, the satellite has exceeded expectations, not only by its longevity, but through the extraordinary impact of its data, which have deepened our understanding of our changing planet and supported a wide range of operational services and laid the foundation for scientific discoveries.

The space under

Five explorers from three space agencies have successfully completed ESA’s CAVES training course in Italy.  

Deep space software upgrade for Hera’s asteroid visit

Operating across 140 million km of space, the control team for ESA’s Hera mission have succeeded in upgrading the software running the spacecraft, leaving it ready to explore the distant Dimorphos and Didymos asteroids this autumn.

Week in images: 13-17 July 2026

ESA astronaut reserve completes training programme

ESA’s astronaut reserve members have completed their Astronaut Reserve Training (ART) programme, marking a key milestone in Europe’s human spaceflight ambitions.

Keeping the sky dark and quiet

For thousands of years, the night sky has inspired humanity, guided explorers and helped scientists unlock the mysteries of the Universe. As the number of satellites in orbit grows, their reflected light and radio frequency interference become a challenge for both professional astronomy and simple stargazing.The European Space Agency (ESA) and the International Astronomical Union’s Centre for the Protection of the Dark and Quiet Sky (IAU CPS) have signed an agreement at the International Astrona

ESA’s Prodex programme brings scientific research to space

The launch of the 4DSpace-Daedalus mission in Norway is the latest success supported by Prodex, a European Space Agency (ESA) programme which enables highly skilled research institutes to partake in European space science activities and missions.

ESA releases 2026 Space Economy Report

The European Space Agency’s (ESA) newly released Space Economy Report gives a comprehensive overview of the latest developments shaping Europe's space sector.

Artemis II crew at ESTEC

European Service Module team meets Artemis II crew

From left to right, NASA astronauts Chrstina Koch, Reid Wiseman and Victor Glover, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen, with ESA's European Service Module team behind them at ESTEC.

Earth from Space: Algerian arid landscape

The sandy and rocky terrain of the Sahara desert in central Algeria is featured in these images captured by the Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission.

ESA at GLOBSEC 2026

ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher participated in the 21st edition of the GLOBSEC Forum, held from 21 to 23 May in Prague, Czechia, under the theme ‘The Global Systemic Transformation.’ The high‑level gathering brought together political leaders, industry representatives and experts to discuss how Europe can respond to an increasingly complex and fragmented geopolitical environment.

Week in images: 18-22 May 2026

Sentinel-1 shows ground displacement after Venezuela earthquakes

The map is an interferogram derived from the comparison of Sentinel-1 data on two dates: on the 18 June before the earthquakes and on 25 June a day after.

Mars’s oddest cloud may be even odder than we thought

Scientists using the European Space Agency's Mars Express, in combination with a state-of-the-art meteorological model of the Red Planet, have found that there may be some very exotic physics behind Mars’s most curious cloud.

Sentinel-3C returns its first views of Earth

Just two weeks after it was launched, the Copernicus Sentinel-3C satellite returned its first images and measurements from two of its key instruments – a major milestone that confirms the satellite is working well and on the road to monitoring the health of Earth’s oceans, land, cryosphere and atmosphere.

Hot surfaces during Europe's heatwave 'seen' by Sentinel-3

Europe is in the middle of a heatwave – Copernicus Sentinel-3 captured this image on Tuesday 26 May

Insights into Earth’s molten outer core from space

The liquid iron in Earth’s outer core doesn’t always behave as expected. When it changed direction in an unexplained way, ESA satellites provided data on the direction of flow, helping scientists gain better insight into the dynamics at the centre of our planet.

MTG-I2 embarks on journey to Europe’s Spaceport

The Meteosat Third Generation-Imager2 satellite sets sail from France to French Guiana

Earth from Space: Agricultural patchwork

The Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission takes us over Australia’s southwestern corner in the Goldfields–Esperance region of Western Australia.

ESA and Poland to establish a new civil security and resilience centre in Warsaw

The European Space Agency (ESA) and the Republic of Poland have announced that a new ESA centre focusing on civil security and resilience will be located in Warsaw, supporting the efficient and coordinated development of European capabilities in these strategically important fields.

Euclid discovers the most ancient quasar in the Universe

Welcome home, Sophie Adenot

Earth from Space: Guinea-Bissau

This Copernicus Sentinel-2 image features part of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau in western Africa.

Unpacking Europe’s new weather imagers

The second Meteosat Third Generation Imager satellite (MTG-I2) has begun its launch campaign, during which it will go through final inspections before being fitted inside the fairing of the Ariane 6 rocket that will launch it into space towards the end of the summer. So how will this 3800 kg satellite help improve weather forecasts for Europe and North Africa?

Earth from Space: Grand Canyon, US

The Grand Canyon, a stunning natural feature in the landscape of Arizona, US, is featured in these two satellite views.

Artemis II astronauts visit ESA

Yesterday, the four Artemis II astronauts visited ESA’s technical site in the Netherlands, where they met the team behind the European Service Module that powered their Orion spacecraft around the Moon and safely back to Earth.

Watch the total solar eclipse with ESA in León

Discover the science behind one of nature's most extraordinary phenomena and experience a total solar eclipse with the European Space Agency (ESA), the City of León and the University of León. Quick links: - Overview of all ESA eclipse activities & resources - Event in León, Spain: daytime programme and evening programme- How to watch live from home (12 August, 19:30–20:45 CEST)

Splashdown confirmed for Sophie Adenot

ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot returned to Earth with Crew-12 after her nearly eight-month εpsilon mission to the International Space Station, splashing down off the coast of California, USA, at 15:34 GMT/17:34 CEST on 8 October 2026. 

Plato's electronics ready for space

ESA at IAC 2026 – Day 3

The future of European exploration and the decisions ahead took centre stage during ESA’s third day at IAC 2026. ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher joined representatives of ESA Member States to discuss Europe's ambitions in low Earth orbit, around the Moon and beyond. The day also saw ESA Director of Space Transportation Géraldine Naja receive the 2026 WIA-Europe Outstanding Achievement Award in recognition of her contribution to the European space sector.

Webb reveals black hole that formed before its galaxy

Using the unprecedented imaging and spectroscopic power of the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope, researchers have mapped the motion and composition of gas orbiting a black hole in the centre of Abell2744-QSO1, a tiny galaxy more than 13 billion light-years away. The results suggest that the 50-million-solar-mass black hole predates its host galaxy, possibly forming within the first second of the Big Bang, and must have been immense from the start.

Week in images: 05-09 October 2026

ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot returns from her first mission to the International Space Station

ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot has arrived back in Europe, landing in Cologne, Germany, following her return to Earth with Crew-12 after 237 days, nearly eight months, aboard the International Space Station for her εpsilon mission.