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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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ESA - United space in Europe

This is ESA ESA facts Member States & Cooperating States Funding Director General Top management For Member State Delegations European vision European Space Policy ESA & EU Space Councils Responsibility & Sustainability Annual Report Calendar of meetings Corporate news

Establishments & sites

ESA Headquarters ESA ESTEC ESA ESOC ESA ESRIN ESA EAC ESA ESAC Europe's Spaceport ESA ESEC ESA ECSAT Brussels Office Washington Office

Working with ESA

Business with ESA ESA Commercialisation Gateway Law at ESA Careers Cyber resilience at ESA IT at ESA Newsroom Partnerships Merchandising Licence Education Open Space Innovation Platform Integrity and Reporting Administrative Tribunal Health and Safety

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History ESA Historical Archives Exhibitions Publications Art & Culture ESA Merchandise Kids Diversity ESA Brand Centre

Latest

Story
Mars Express sees a dust devil dancing across Mars
Science & Exploration

Dancing dust devils trace raging winds on Mars

08/10/2025 889 views 7 likes
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Video 00:07:47
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Space Safety

Hera’s first year in space

07/10/2025 1381 views 43 likes
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Heads of space agencies and offices met at the IAF Global Space Leaders Summit alongside IAC 2025 on 30 September 2025.

Week in images: 29 September - 3 October 2025

Discover our week through the lens

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Image
Applications

Earth from Space: Kilauea lava lake, Hawaii

03/10/2025 17991 views 78 likes
This Copernicus Sentinel-2 image captures an active lava lake on the Kilauea volcano on Hawaii’s Big Island.
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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 5613 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.

Germany Germany Austria Austria Belgium Belgium Denmark Denmark Spain Spain Estonia Estonia Finland Finland France France Greece Greece Hungary Hungary Ireland Ireland Italy Italy Luxembourg Luxembourg Norway Norway The Netherlands The Netherlands Poland Poland Portugal Portugal Czechia Czechia Romania Romania United Kingdom United Kingdom Slovenia Slovenia Sweden Sweden Switzerland Switzerland

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

Latest

Story
Mars Express sees a dust devil dancing across Mars
Science & Exploration

Dancing dust devils trace raging winds on Mars

08/10/2025 889 views 7 likes
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Video 00:03:16
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Science & Exploration

Fly over Xanthe Terra with Mars Express

02/10/2025 3306 views 104 likes
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Image
Science & Exploration

Defying gravity

12/09/2025 1022 views 15 likes
Members of ESA's astronaut reserve during a parabolic flight campaign.
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Press Release N° 49–2024
Science & Exploration

ESA 3D prints first metal part on the International Space Station

The first metal 3D printer in space, a collaboration between ESA and Airbus, has printed its first metal product on the International Space Station, a breakthrough in crew autonomy for future long-duration exploration missions.
06/09/2024 4390 views
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Science & Exploration

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

Space junk

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

Safety from space

Clean Space ecodesign Zero Debris Technologies Space for Earth Supporting Sustainable Development

Space weather

Solar Hazards ESA Vigil: providing solar warning Space Weather Warning Network

Latest

Video 00:07:47
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Space Safety

Hera’s first year in space

07/10/2025 1381 views 43 likes
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Story
Space Safety

ESA’s Hera targets early arrival at Didymos asteroids

07/10/2025 616 views 8 likes
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Image
Space Safety

ESA spots asteroid that made very close approach to Earth

06/10/2025 8162 views 52 likes
ESA spots asteroid that made very close approach to Earth
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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

Connectivity

Connectivity and Secure Communications ARTES Moonlight Civil security from space

Satellite navigation

Satellite navigation Galileo EGNOS NAVISP Genesis LEO-PNT

Commercialisation

ESA Commercialisation Gateway Open Space Innovation Platform Business Incubation ESA Space Solutions

Latest

Story
Sea state
Applications

Satellites reveal the power of ocean swell

08/10/2025 663 views 20 likes
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Image
Applications

Earth from Space: Kilauea lava lake, Hawaii

03/10/2025 17991 views 78 likes
This Copernicus Sentinel-2 image captures an active lava lake on the Kilauea volcano on Hawaii’s Big Island.
View
Video 00:02:18
Play
Applications

ESA’s Space Systems for Safety and Security (4S) programme

20/11/2024 3102 views 35 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 4538 views
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ESA Φ-week 2021
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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

Story
In September, mission controllers at ESA's mission control centre started a major simulations exercise to ensure that the next Copernicus Sentinel Earth Observation mission, Sentinel-6B, safely navigates its first days in space.
Enabling & Support

Rehearsing for Sentinel-6B’s early days in space

08/10/2025 231 views 8 likes
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Image
Enabling & Support

Students take 3D-printed rovers for a spin

03/07/2025 1458 views 39 likes
Students take 3D-printed rovers for a spin
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Video 00:02:27
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Enabling & Support

Proba-3 lift-off replay

05/12/2024 3874 views 69 likes
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Juice approaches Earth
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 2781 views
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Enabling & Support

Space Engineering & Technology

Space Engineering & Technology

Latest

Focus on

TEC Business to Business website

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ESA Delivers: 50 years booklet

50 hallmark achievements across 50 years

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Video 00:07:47
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Space Safety

Hera’s first year in space

07/10/2025 1346 views 43 likes
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Story
The cavernous chamber of the Large Space Simulator
Enabling & Support

Large Space Simulator gets a digital twin

06/10/2025 1351 views 33 likes
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Story
Dielof van Loon and his drone
Enabling & Support

The dynamic drone-rover duo with a special bond

24/09/2025 1260 views 24 likes
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Story
Endothelial cells
Enabling & Support

A cell’s-eye view of altered gravity and ageing

16/09/2025 913 views 25 likes
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Story
Plato sailing to the Netherlands by boat
Science & Exploration

Plato arrived at ESA’s test centre by boat

11/09/2025 3454 views 41 likes
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Story
Over the summer 2025, ESA’s Ground Laser Transmitter, installed at the Kryoneri Observatory in Greece, has been the half of a optical communication demonstration campaign between Earth and NASA’s Psyche mission.
Enabling & Support

ESA wraps up 300-million-kilometre optical communication ca…

27/08/2025 3360 views 46 likes
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Video 00:07:25
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Science & Exploration

Testing, testing, testing – Let’s Smile (episode 3)

15/07/2025 1811 views 31 likes
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Image
Enabling & Support

Students take 3D-printed rovers for a spin

03/07/2025 1458 views 39 likes
Students take 3D-printed rovers for a spin
View
Video 00:01:40
Play
Enabling & Support

First artificial solar eclipse in space

16/06/2025 2766 views 22 likes
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Image
Agency

Technology 2040

16/06/2025 6394 views 77 likes
A VISION FOR THE EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY
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Video 00:00:33
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Enabling & Support

Simulating space on Earth for miniature satellite testing

12/05/2025 1785 views 26 likes
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Image
Enabling & Support

Hovering over Europe’s flattest floor with AI

24/04/2025 1894 views 44 likes
Hovering over Europe’s flattest floor with AI
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Image
Enabling & Support

New ESA invention tested in a chamber of no echoes

09/04/2025 2965 views 59 likes
New ESA invention tested in a chamber of no echoes
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More items
  • Video
    Enabling & Support

    How do you build a spaceship?

    01/04/2019 9453 views 96 likes
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  • Agency

    Technology Image of the Week Archive

    Open item
  • Video
    Space Safety

    Hera: ESA’s planetary defence mission

    25/06/2019 24106 views 319 likes
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  • Image
    Agency

    1: 11 steps to make a space mission

    01/04/2019 5129 views 20 likes
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    1: 11 steps to make a space mission
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What we do

Directorate of Technology, Engineering and Quality (TEC)

Engineering

Engineering for space Support to projects Ensuring quality

Cross-cutting initiatives

About Cross-cutting initiatives Clean Space Design 2 Produce Advanced Manufacturing Technology Breakthroughs for Science (TEBS) Technologies for Exploration Space and Energy

Electrical

Electrical engineering Control Systems Data Systems RF Payloads & Technology Electromagnetics and Space Environment Power Systems

Mechanical

Mechanical engineering Thermal Control Structures and Mechanisms Mechatronics and Optics, incl. robotics and life support Propulsion and Aerothermodynamics

Systems

Systems and software engineering Software Systems Systems Engineering, incl. cost engineering

Product Assurance

Product Assurance Flight Safety Dependability Quality Management and Assurance Materials and Processes Electronic Components Software Product Assurance

Standards

Requirements and standards European Cooperation for Space Standardization (ECSS) European Space Components Coordination (ESCC)

Technology

Going up Giant leaps
Technology Harmonisation

Directorate Technology programmes

About Directorate Technology Programmes Technology Development Element Programme (TDE) General Support Technology Programme (GSTP) Technology Transfer and Patent Office (TTPO) European Components Initiative (ECI)

Technology in domain programmes

Technology in domain programmes

Services

ESA Conferences

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Hera spacecraft

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ESTEC50 HL

50 years of ESTEC brochure

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Test Centre

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Chamber for thermal testing

Laboratories

Laboratories

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Natanael Ayllon

Talking Technology

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Proba Missions

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Concurrent Design Facility

Designing future space missions

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Clean Space logo

Clean Space initiative

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Technology Transfer and Patent Office (TTPO)

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Publications

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Space for Energy

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