ESA - ESA history

Welcome to ESA History of Europe in space ELDO/ESRO/ESA:
Key dates 1960-2010

Key figures

European space pioneers Past Directors General of ESA ESRO Directors General ELDO Secretaries General Chairs of ELDO/ESRO/ESA Council

ESA History Project

The History of the European Space Agency Space history on the web Further reading on European space history

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ESA Bulletin: The ESA History Project History Study Reports A History of the European Space Agency, Volume I:
The story of ESRO and ELDO, 1958-1973 (pdf)A History of the European Space Agency, Volume II:
The story of ESA, 1973-1987 (pdf)

Best of ERS: 20 years of observing Earth

28 September 2011 Watch the celebration and scientific workshop on the legacy of the two ERS satellite missions. The events were held on 27 September at ESRIN, ESA’s centre for Earth observation, in Frascati, Italy.

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Atlantis landing on the Shuttle Landing Facility

Space Shuttle final landing marks end of an era

21 July 2011 Thus was history made: Space Shuttle Atlantis left the International Space Station on Tuesday and made its last return to Earth today. The Shuttle era is now over and the door is open to the next generation of space vehicles.

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ESA BR-294 The ESA History Project

15 April 2011 In 2009 the Alexandre Koyré Medal was awarded to the ESA History Project, coinciding with completion of the second phase of the project. The medal is a recognition of the impressive work that has been carried out over the 20 years since the project started.
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More News

21 March 2011	“I see Earth! It is so beautiful!"

11 March 2011	Giotto, ESA's first deep-space mission: 25 years ago

26 October 2010	Spacelab D1 mission – 25 years ago

16 July 2010	Cluster's decade of discovery

23 April 2010	Starry-eyed Hubble celebrates 20 years of awe and discovery