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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

Story
A rendering of ACES on ESA's Columbus module on the International Space Station
Science & Exploration

ACES finds its home in orbit

25/04/2025 590 views 21 likes
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Focus on
Solar Orbiter’s widest high-resolution view of the Sun

Week in images: 21-25 April 2025

Discover our week through the lens

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Image
Applications

Earth from Space: French Guiana

25/04/2025 635 views 20 likes
Copernicus Sentinel-1 captured this radar image over French Guiana – home to Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, where ESA’s Biomass mission is being prepared for liftoff on 29 April onboard a Vega-C rocket.
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Video 00:02:22
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Applications

Lifting the canopy on Earth’s forests

23/04/2025 889 views 33 likes
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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 4564 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

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

Latest

Story
A rendering of ACES on ESA's Columbus module on the International Space Station
Science & Exploration

ACES finds its home in orbit

25/04/2025 590 views 21 likes
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Image
Science & Exploration

Participants at KUBIK's anniversary celebration at ESTEC

25/04/2025 58 views 3 likes
Participants at KUBIK's anniversary celebration at ESTEC
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Video 00:05:23
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Science & Exploration

Gaia: Rewriting the story of the Milky Way

28/03/2025 2852 views 65 likes
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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 3410 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 safety and security

Protecting our Pale Blue Dot The story so far Plans for the future

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 01:07:58
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Space Safety

Media briefing: Europe's top experts address the growing th…

01/04/2025 381 views 5 likes
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Story
Space debris surrounding Earth
Space Safety

ESA Space Environment Report 2025

01/04/2025 13872 views 36 likes
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Image
Space Safety

Hera Mars flyby

10/03/2025 4708 views 86 likes
Hera Mars flyby
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Focus on
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

Image
Applications

Earth from Space: French Guiana

25/04/2025 635 views 20 likes
Copernicus Sentinel-1 captured this radar image over French Guiana – home to Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, where ESA’s Biomass mission is being prepared for liftoff on 29 April onboard a Vega-C rocket.
View
Story
Measuring the diameter of a tree in forest close to Nova Xavantina, Mato Grosso, Brazil
Applications

A new space age for forests – but groundwork still matters

24/04/2025 495 views 17 likes
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Video 00:02:18
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Applications

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

20/11/2024 2029 views 20 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 4139 views
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ESA Φ-week 2021
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

Story
P160C solid-propellant rocket motor fires on ground
Enabling & Support

P160C fires up successfully, a new chapter for Ariane 6 and…

25/04/2025 709 views 22 likes
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Image
Enabling & Support

Hovering over Europe’s flattest floor with AI

24/04/2025 730 views 31 likes
Hovering over Europe’s flattest floor with AI
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Video 00:02:27
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Enabling & Support

Proba-3 lift-off replay

05/12/2024 3316 views 64 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 2468 views
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Agency

Samantha Cristoforetti

25/07/2014 2306 views
ESA / Newsroom / Photos / Highlights

A collection of images of Samantha Cristoforetti's training at the Johnson Space Centre.

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    Science & Exploration

    Samantha using the virtual reality hardware at JSC

    25/07/2014 1377 views 1 likes
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    Samantha using the virtual reality hardware at JSC
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    Samantha trains for her robotic arm duties at JSC

    25/07/2014 581 views 0 likes
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    Samantha trains for her robotic arm duties at JSC
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    Science & Exploration

    Samantha trains for her robotic arm duties at JSC

    25/07/2014 3380 views 19 likes
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    Samantha trains for her robotic arm duties at JSC
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    Samantha during training at JSC

    25/07/2014 415 views 0 likes
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    Samantha during training at JSC
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    Samantha attends class on theoretical aspects and necessary tools for EVA's

    25/07/2014 424 views 0 likes
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    Samantha attends class on theoretical aspects and necessary tools for EVA's
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    Samantha attends class on theoretical aspects and necessary tools for EVA's

    25/07/2014 447 views 0 likes
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    Samantha attends class on theoretical aspects and necessary tools for EVA's
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    Samantha during training at JSC

    25/07/2014 469 views 0 likes
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    Samantha during training at JSC
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    Science & Exploration

    Samantha and Alexander during training at JSC

    25/07/2014 838 views 1 likes
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    Samantha and Alexander during training at JSC
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    Samantha during training at JSC

    25/07/2014 412 views 0 likes
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    Samantha during training at JSC
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    Science & Exploration

    Samantha, Butch and Elena during training at JSC

    25/07/2014 1440 views 9 likes
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    Samantha, Butch and Elena during training at JSC
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    Science & Exploration

    Samantha during training at JSC

    25/07/2014 523 views 0 likes
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    Samantha during training at JSC
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    Science & Exploration

    Samantha during training at JSC

    25/07/2014 422 views 0 likes
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    Samantha during training at JSC
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    Science & Exploration

    Expeditions 41/42 and 42/43 crew members during training at JSC

    25/07/2014 626 views 1 likes
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    Expeditions 41/42 and 42/43 crew members during training at JSC
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    Science & Exploration

    Expeditions 41/42 and 42/43 crew members during training at JSC

    25/07/2014 592 views 0 likes
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    Expeditions 41/42 and 42/43 crew members during training at JSC
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    Science & Exploration

    Expeditions 41/42 and 42/43 crew members during training at JSC

    25/07/2014 554 views 0 likes
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    Expeditions 41/42 and 42/43 crew members during training at JSC
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    Science & Exploration

    Samantha at JSC

    25/07/2014 1784 views 2 likes
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    Samantha at JSC
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    Science & Exploration

    Samantha during training at JSC

    25/07/2014 484 views 1 likes
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    Samantha during training at JSC
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    Science & Exploration

    Samantha during training at JSC

    25/07/2014 456 views 0 likes
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    Samantha during training at JSC
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    Science & Exploration

    Expeditions 41/42 and 42/43 crew members during training

    25/07/2014 720 views 3 likes
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    Expeditions 41/42 and 42/43 crew members during training
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    Science & Exploration

    Samantha during training at JSC

    25/07/2014 415 views 0 likes
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    Samantha during training at JSC
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    Science & Exploration

    Expeditions 41/42 and 42/43 crew members during training

    25/07/2014 548 views 0 likes
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    Expeditions 41/42 and 42/43 crew members during training
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    Science & Exploration

    Samantha during training at JSC

    25/07/2014 698 views 1 likes
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    Samantha during training at JSC
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    Science & Exploration

    Samantha during training at JSC

    25/07/2014 378 views 0 likes
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    Samantha during training at JSC
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    Science & Exploration

    Flight control room at JSC

    25/07/2014 2122 views 4 likes
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    Flight control room at JSC
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    Science & Exploration

    Flight control room at JSC

    25/07/2014 2317 views 1 likes
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    Flight control room at JSC
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