ESA title

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.

Highlights

Careers
Business with ESA
Newsroom
Education
Kids
ESA Space Shop

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

More about ESA

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

Latest

Video 00:06:15
Play
Agency

ESA School Days 2025 at ESRIN

18/04/2025 279 views 12 likes
Play
Image
Applications

Earth from Space: Giza, Egypt

18/04/2025 2633 views 31 likes
This very high-resolution image captures the Egyptian city of Giza and its surrounding area, including the world-famous Giza Pyramid Complex.
View
Story
Global sea surface temperature
Applications

Sea surface warming faster than expected

17/04/2025 962 views 21 likes
Read
Focus on
Fuelling Biomass

Week in images: 07-11 April 2025

Discover our week through the lens

Open
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 4512 views
Open

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

Go to topic

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
No tricks, just treats (M83 MIRI image)
Science & Exploration

Webb spots clues of black hole at heart of nearby galaxy M83

17/04/2025 2446 views 13 likes
Read
Image
Science & Exploration

Hubble offers a new view of Sombrero galaxy

16/04/2025 2334 views 75 likes
Sombrero Galaxy
View
Video 00:05:23
Play
Science & Exploration

Gaia: Rewriting the story of the Milky Way

28/03/2025 2633 views 62 likes
Play
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 3353 views
Open
Focus on
Science & Exploration

Space science from home: resources for children and adults

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

Open

Space Safety

Protecting life and infrastructure on Earth and in orbit

Go to topic

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
Play
Space Safety

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

01/04/2025 317 views 4 likes
Play
Story
Space debris surrounding Earth
Space Safety

ESA Space Environment Report 2025

01/04/2025 12856 views 35 likes
Read
Image
Space Safety

Hera Mars flyby

10/03/2025 4641 views 86 likes
Hera Mars flyby
View
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

Open

Applications

Using space to benefit citizens and meet future challenges on Earth

Go to topic

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: Giza, Egypt

18/04/2025 2633 views 31 likes
This very high-resolution image captures the Egyptian city of Giza and its surrounding area, including the world-famous Giza Pyramid Complex.
View
Story
Global sea surface temperature
Applications

Sea surface warming faster than expected

17/04/2025 962 views 21 likes
Read
Video 00:02:18
Play
Applications

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

20/11/2024 1973 views 20 likes
Play
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 4101 views
Open
Focus on
ESA Φ-week 2021
Applications

Register for Φ-week

Open

Enabling & Support

Making space accessible and developing the technologies for the future

Go to topic

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
Space Rider's ALEK in accoustic chamber
Enabling & Support

Space Rider’s smart ALEK passes bumpy, noisy, shocking test…

10/04/2025 1404 views 33 likes
Read
Image
Enabling & Support

New ESA invention tested in a chamber of no echoes

09/04/2025 1828 views 49 likes
New ESA invention tested in a chamber of no echoes
View
Video 00:02:27
Play
Enabling & Support

Proba-3 lift-off replay

05/12/2024 3272 views 64 likes
Play
Focus on
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

Open
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 2454 views
Open
Space Safety

archive

Space Safety
Back
Stories Videos Images
Story
Fuel for Galileo satellites
Space Safety

Space missions taking account of fast-changing chemical wor…

10/04/2015 2997 views 36 likes
Read
Story
Detecting space hazards
Space Safety

Call for Media: ESA Hosts IAA Planetary Defence Conference …

10/04/2015 1632 views 9 likes
Read
Story
Solar sail
Space Safety

Scuttling satellites to save space

26/03/2015 9684 views 91 likes
Read
Story
Netting a derelict satellite
Space Safety

Want to snag a satellite? Try a net

23/03/2015 21337 views 126 likes
Read
Story
DMSP satellite
Space Safety

ESA experts assess risk from exploded satellite

04/03/2015 13309 views 85 likes
Read
Story
Tommaso Ghidini
Space Safety

Maintaining performance with greener materials: Tommaso Ghi…

04/02/2015 3331 views 20 likes
Read
Story
The growing problem of space debris
Space Safety

CleanSat: new satellite technologies for cleaner low orbits

12/01/2015 20944 views 106 likes
Read
Story
Chelyabinsk asteroid trail
Space Safety

Preparing for an asteroid strike

18/12/2014 27037 views 129 likes
Read
Story
Asteroid
Space Safety

European astronomers spot faint asteroid

04/12/2014 11176 views 75 likes
Read
Story
Proba-2 sees our Sun
Space Safety

Five years in space: one satellite, three missions

02/11/2014 7182 views 88 likes
Read
Story
ESA control room
Space Safety

Steering ESA satellites clear of space debris

30/10/2014 7550 views 48 likes
Read
Story
Jakob Huesing
Space Safety

How much inspiration a small field can give: Jakob Huesing …

21/10/2014 1627 views 8 likes
Read
Story
Our ecosystem
Space Safety

Clean Space – ESA’s response to environmental challenges

25/09/2014 1632 views 6 likes
Read
Story
Lemons: source of citric acid
Space Safety

Lemon juice: new ingredient for space designers?

18/09/2014 7699 views 67 likes
Read
Story
Tiago Soares
Space Safety

Finding ways to overcome barriers: Tiago Soares interview

12/09/2014 3518 views 12 likes
Read
Story
Future Flyeye telescope
Space Safety

ESA’s bug-eyed telescope to spot risky asteroids

10/09/2014 13654 views 46 likes
Read
Story
Green laser shooting at the Moon
Space Safety

SocialSpace Optics: watching, communicating, connecting

05/09/2014 5642 views 30 likes
Read
Story
Space debris objects in orbit
Space Safety

ESA makes space debris software available online

25/06/2014 24628 views 33 likes
Read
Story
Harpooning in space
Space Safety

Whale of a target: harpooning space debris

24/06/2014 16139 views 78 likes
Read
Story
Close-up of 3D-printed surface
Space Safety

Does 3D printing have the right stuff?

20/06/2014 5563 views 70 likes
Read
Story
Space weather report for Venus 5 June 2014
Space Safety

Space weather report for an alien world

06/06/2014 8418 views 55 likes
Read
Story
Space debris around Earth
Space Safety

Probing satellites’ mysterious death tumbling

28/05/2014 13239 views 73 likes
Read
Story
Kai-Uwe Schrogl
Space Safety

Raising awareness and winning the argument: Kai-Uwe Schrogl…

14/05/2014 3785 views 6 likes
Read
Story
Robin Biesbroek
Space Safety

Readying ESA's 'garbage truck': Robin Biesbroek interview

21/03/2014 6137 views 49 likes
Read
Story
Explosions of satellites & rocket bodies
Space Safety

Reducing debris threat from satellite batteries

13/03/2014 7364 views 74 likes
Read
Story
Test radar in Spain
Space Safety

ESA debris radar detects first space objects

25/02/2014 8309 views 35 likes
Read
Story
Netting a derelict satellite
Space Safety

How to catch a satellite

21/02/2014 30733 views 113 likes
Read
Story
Comet P/2014 C1 seen from Argentina
Space Safety

A good year to find a comet

12/02/2014 6699 views 44 likes
Read
Story
Artist's impression of asteroids passing Earth
Space Safety

Getting ready for asteroids

31/01/2014 30168 views 102 likes
Read
Story
Solar sail
Space Safety

Tacking sails to a satellite

28/01/2014 2912 views 41 likes
Read
Story
ESO spots 2009 FD
Space Safety

European cooperation reduces asteroid risk

24/01/2014 1456 views 5 likes
Read
Story
Ariane 5 flight VA215 liftoff
Space Safety

Partner sought to assess environmental impacts of satellite…

10/01/2014 3594 views 27 likes
Read
Story
GOCE reenters atmosphere
Space Safety

Look out below – Design for Demise study aims to cut satell…

20/12/2013 2495 views 28 likes
Read
Story
Multi-layered composite material
Space Safety

ESA seeks cleaner means of ‘cooking’ composite satellite pa…

02/12/2013 2813 views 32 likes
Read
Story
Space Safety

What might recyclable satellites look like?

22/11/2013 10675 views 64 likes
Read
Story
ATV-4 fuelling in progress
Space Safety

Considering hydrazine-free satellite propulsion

14/11/2013 6612 views 37 likes
Read
Story
Space Debris Conference brochure cover
Space Safety

Does ESA give serious consideration to the issue of space d…

16/10/2013 612 views 1 likes
Read
Story
Harwell
Space Safety

ESA’s Clean Space initiative to be presented to UK space se…

03/10/2013 2436 views 35 likes
Read
Story
Artificial object 2013 QW1
Space Safety

Space oddity: the mystery of 2013 QW1

19/09/2013 4365 views 11 likes
Read
Story
Laurent Pambaguian, of ESA’s Materials Technology section
Space Safety

Applying a long-term perspective: Laurent Pambaguian interv…

11/09/2013 3003 views 10 likes
Read
Story
Space debris removal
Space Safety

ESA seeking company to develop space debris removal mission

06/09/2013 2809 views 4 likes
Read
Story
Holger Krag
Space Safety

The right response at the right time: Holger Krag interview

21/08/2013 4096 views 21 likes
Read
Story
Cleaning space
Space Safety

A try-out mission for space debris clean-up?

02/08/2013 2317 views 8 likes
Read
Story
The Automated Transfer Vehicle burns up during a guided and controlled reentry
Space Safety

Clean Space offers webcast on 'Design for Demise' study pre…

02/08/2013 1053 views 3 likes
Read
Story
UARS reentered in 2011
Space Safety

‘Design for Demise’ ITT issued, aiming for safer satellites

24/07/2013 562 views 0 likes
Read
Story
CCSDS conjunction warning message format
Space Safety

ESA supports global format for debris warnings

18/07/2013 1381 views 3 likes
Read
Story
Space Safety

Target asteroid tracked by European teams

18/07/2013 2806 views 19 likes
Read
Story
SSA NEOCC inauguration
Space Safety

Watching for hazards: ESA opens asteroid centre

22/05/2013 8622 views 47 likes
Read
Story
Chelyabinsk asteroid trail
Space Safety

After Chelyabinsk: European experts assess asteroid options

08/05/2013 10290 views 67 likes
Read
Story
Concept for future deorbit mission
Space Safety

Global experts agree action needed on space debris

25/04/2013 18963 views 79 likes
Read
< 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 >