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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

Bolivian forest and landscape from Biomass

Applications

Biomass satellite returns striking first images of forests …

23/06/2025 5241 views 42 likes

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Astronomers discover vast filament of ‘missing’ matter

Week in images: 16-20 June 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 5018 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

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Activities

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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

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Space Safety

ESA’s new asteroid hunter opens its eye to the sky

05/06/2025 6048 views 82 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

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TRUTHS ground segment contract signature

Applications

Living Planet Symposium Extras: Day 1

23/06/2025 191 views 5 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 4278 views

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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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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

Enabling & Support

R&D Successes Onboard Biomass

23/06/2025 211 views 15 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 2567 views

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Agency

Josef Aschbacher ist neuer ESA-Generaldirektor

01/03/2021 212 views 3 likes

ESA / Space in Member States / Germany

Ab heute, dem 1. März 2021, hat die ESA einen neuen Generaldirektor: Dr. Josef Aschbacher, der seinen Dienst in der ESA-Zentrale in Paris, Frankreich, angetreten hat.

Der ESA-Rat hatte Dr. Aschbacher im Dezember 2020 für einen Zeitraum von vier Jahren zum nächsten Generaldirektor der ESA ernannt. Er folgt auf Prof. Jan Wörner, dessen Amtszeit im Februar 2021 endete.

Dr. Aschbacher war zuvor ESA-Direktor für Erdbeobachtungsprogramme und Leiter des ESA-Zentrums für Erdbeobachtung, dem ESRIN bei Rom.

Weitere Informationen.