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About ESA

The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe’s gateway to space. Its mission is to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.

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Latest

Group picture at the Space Systems Engineering Training Course at ESEC – Galaxia

Agency

ESA and AfSA join forces for systems engineering training

04/11/2025 652 views 18 likes

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Week in images: 27-31 October 2025

Discover our week through the lens

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Press Release N° 24–2024

Science & Exploration

ESA and NASA join forces to land Europe’s rover on Mars

ESA and NASA are consolidating their cooperation on the ExoMars Rosalind Franklin mission with an agreement that ensures important US contributions, such as the launch service, elements of the propulsion system needed for landing on Mars and heater units for the Rosalind Franklin rover.

16/05/2024 5944 views

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Space in Member States

Find out more about space activities in our 23 Member States, and understand how ESA works together with their national agencies, institutions and organisations.

Science & Exploration

Exploring our Solar System and unlocking the secrets of the Universe

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Programmes

Space Science Human and Robotic Exploration

Astronauts

Sophie Adenot

Pablo Álvarez Fernández

Rosemary Coogan

Samantha Cristoforetti

Alexander Gerst

Raphaël Liégeois

Matthias Maurer

Andreas Mogensen

Luca Parmitano

Thomas Pesquet

Marco Sieber

Missions

Juice Euclid Webb Solar Orbiter BepiColombo Gaia ExoMars Cheops Exoplanet missions More missions

Activities

International Space Station Orion service module Gateway Concordia Caves & Pangaea Benefits

Space science from home: resources for children and adults

A selection of activities to pass time and learn more about space science

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Space Safety

Protecting life and infrastructure on Earth and in orbit

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About space safety

Protecting our Pale Blue Dot Space Safety at ESA

Asteroids

Asteroids and Planetary Defence Asteroid danger explained Flyeye telescope: asteroid detection Hera mission: asteroid deflection Near-Earth Object Coordination Centre

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About space debris Space debris by the numbers Space Environment Report In space refuelling, refurbishing and removing

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Space weather

Space weather and its hazards ESA Vigil: providing solar warning ESA Space Weather Service Network

Latest

Space Safety

Europe must be able to predict and prevent asteroid impacts

228 views 0 likes

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Space Safety

James Webb Space Telescope will study asteroid 2024 YR4

Webb will provide a more accurate estimate of the asteroid's size

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Applications

Using space to benefit citizens and meet future challenges on Earth

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Observing the Earth

Observing the Earth Future EO Copernicus Meteorology Space for our climate Satellite missions

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Latest

Applications

Sentinel-1D reaches orbit on Ariane 6

04/11/2025 6196 views 16 likes

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Press Release N° 1–2024

Applications

Media invitation: Last chance to see the EarthCARE cloud and aerosol satellite in Europe

On 1 February, media representatives have the unique opportunity of seeing the EarthCARE satellite up close in the cleanroom at Airbus facilities in Friedrichshafen, Germany, before the spacecraft is packed up and shipped to California, USA, for a launch scheduled in May.

11/01/2024 4687 views

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Applications

Register for Φ-week

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Enabling & Support

Making space accessible and developing the technologies for the future

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Building missions

Space Engineering and Technology Test centre Laboratories Concurrent Design Facility Preparing for the future Shaping the Future Discovery and Preparation Advanced Concepts Team

Space transportation

Space Transportation Ariane Vega Space Rider Future space transportation Boost! Europe's Spaceport Launches from Europe's Spaceport from 2012

Flying missions

Operations ESA ground stations Ground Systems Engineering

Latest

Vulcain 2.1 igniters for Ariane 6 on the launch pad

Enabling & Support

Ariane 6 – made in Ireland

04/11/2025 308 views 1 likes

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Enabling & Support

Blog: Juice's lunar-Earth flyby

Follow for the latest updates as ESA's Jupiter mission swings through the Earth system this summer

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Press Release N° 8–2024

Enabling & Support

Call for interest: Ariane 6 launch media events at Europe’s Spaceport

Media representatives are invited to express their interest in attending media events at Europe's Spaceport at Kourou, French Guiana, for the first flight of Europe's new rocket Ariane 6. Journalists wishing to participate in either or both the pre-launch and launch media programmes detailed below, are asked to submit their application via ESA’s media accreditation page by Friday 1 March 2024.

19/02/2024 2892 views

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Science & Exploration

ExoMars rover cutout model

1409 views 13 likes

ESA / Science & Exploration / Human and Robotic Exploration / Exploration

Robotic missions to Mars will offer a deeper understanding of Mars's environment, pave the way for manned missions and contribute to their success.

ExoMars is the first Flagship Mission that is being studied under the Aurora Programme. Due to be launched in 2009, ExoMars will feature a rover and an exobiology payload, named after the French biologist Pasteur.

Below are links to a 1:15 scale cutout model of the ExoMars rover, designed in the Concurrent Design Facility of ESA's European Space Research and Technical Centre (ESTEC) in the Netherlands.

Enjoy building it!

cutout model + instructions (Word document, 1768kb)

cutout model + instructions (PDF format, 2793 kb)

background details (PDF format, 3700 kb)