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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

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The Red Spider Nebula (Webb)

Week in images: 27-31 October 2025

Discover our week through the lens

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Science & Exploration

Seas of the Sun: The story of Cluster

31/10/2025 493 views 21 likes
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Applications

Earth from Space: Ghostly lake

31/10/2025 1810 views 40 likes
To celebrate Halloween, we bring you these spooky sights of Lake Carnegie in Australia, captured from space by Copernicus Sentinel-2.
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Story
Earthquake damage
Applications

AI challenge advances satellite-based disaster mapping

29/10/2025 1042 views 26 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 5895 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

Video 00:46:03
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Science & Exploration

Seas of the Sun: The story of Cluster

31/10/2025 493 views 21 likes
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Image
Science & Exploration

The Red Spider Nebula, caught by Webb

28/10/2025 5202 views 105 likes
The Red Spider Nebula (Webb)
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Story
Training in the LUNA facilities
Science & Exploration

Second Space Resources Challenge: from concept to reality a…

24/10/2025 2176 views 29 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 4650 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

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

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Space Safety

ESA Space Safety Fleet

30/10/2025 2615 views 63 likes
ESA Space Safety Fleet
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Space debris surrounding Earth
Space Safety

Sounding the alarm: ESA introduces space environment ‘healt…

22/10/2025 8084 views 77 likes
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Space Safety

Ramses: ESA’s mission to rendezvous with asteroid Apophis

13/10/2025 3799 views 79 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

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: Ghostly lake

31/10/2025 1810 views 40 likes
To celebrate Halloween, we bring you these spooky sights of Lake Carnegie in Australia, captured from space by Copernicus Sentinel-2.
View
Story
Earthquake damage
Applications

AI challenge advances satellite-based disaster mapping

29/10/2025 1042 views 26 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 3422 views 36 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 4672 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

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Enabling & Support

ESA’s first stand-alone deep-space CubeSat Henon takes shape

29/10/2025 2393 views 36 likes
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Enabling & Support

Students take 3D-printed rovers for a spin

03/07/2025 1620 views 39 likes
Students take 3D-printed rovers for a spin
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Enabling & Support

Proba-3 lift-off replay

05/12/2024 3997 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 2881 views
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Applications

MetOp Second Generation instruments

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ESA / Applications / Observing the Earth / Meteorological missions / MetOp

A list of the foreseen instruments. Some are provided by ESA and some will be procured by Eumetsat from other space agencies.

MetOp Second Generation concept
MetOp-SG-A MetOp-SG-B
Orbit LEO, polar, Sun-synchronous LEO, polar, Sun-synchronous
Altitude 817 km 817 km
Mass ~3000 kg ~2400
Lifetime 8.5 years 8.5 years
Instruments 8 7
Visible Infrared Imager (DLR) Microwave Imager (ESA)
Microwave Sounder (ESA) Ice Cloud Imager (ESA)
Infrared Sounder (CNES) Scatterometer (ESA)
Radio Occultation (ESA) Radio Occultation (ESA)
Multi-view Multi-channel Multi-polarization imager (ESA) Argos Data Collection Service (NOAA/CNES)
Radiation Energy Radiometer (NOAA) Search and Rescue (COSPAS-SARSAT)
Sentinel-5 (ESA) Space Environment Monitor (NOAA)
Low Light Imager (NOAA)

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Observing the Earth
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Observing the Earth

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Meteorological missions
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Meteorological missions

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European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites

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