ESA - Press Releases

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Published by the ESA Newsroom and Media Relations

email: media @ esa.int (Media inquiries only)

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Press Release N° 54–2026

Media invitation: ESA’s ESTEC Open Day

On Sunday 27 September, journalists are invited to visit ESA ESTEC – the European Space Research and Technology Centre in Noordwijk (The Netherlands), ESA’s largest establishment - as it opens its doors for the 15th time to thousands of visitors. Participants will have the opportunity to meet the engineers and scientists turning bold ideas into tomorrow’s technology.

18/09/2026 5 views

Press Release N° 53–2026

ESA awards contracts for Europe’s EOGS blueprint

The European Space Agency has awarded two contracts, one to ICEYE and one to Leonardo, to carry out parallel architecture studies for the EU’s future Earth Observation Governmental Service (EOGS). These activities are funded by the European Commission and are integral part of Element 1 of ESA’s European Resilience from Space for Earth Observation (ERS-EO) programme – a new programme decided at the Ministerial Council in November 2025.

17/09/2026 165 views

Press Release N° 52–2026

Science & Exploration

Call for interest: Mars rover field trials in Spain

Media representatives are invited to express their interest in attending Mars rover field trials taking place in the Tabernas desert, Almería, Spain, on 1 October 2026.

17/09/2026 109 views

Press Release N° 51–2026

Science & Exploration

Media Invitation: PANGAEA astronaut training in Lanzarote

Media representatives are invited to meet ESA astronaut Pablo Álvarez in Lanzarote on Saturday, 26 September, following the completion of his PANGAEA training.

16/09/2026 81 views

Press Release N° 50–2026

FLEX and Sentinel-3C launched

The European Space Agency’s FLEX Earth Explorer satellite and the Copernicus Sentinel-3C satellite have been launched together aboard a Vega-C rocket from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana, marking a new milestone in Europe’s Earth Observation Programmes.

15/09/2026 624 views

Press Release N° 49–2026

Science & Exploration

ESA and Axiom Space strengthen cooperation for the post-ISS era

The European Space Agency (ESA) and Axiom Space have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore future cooperation in Low Earth Orbit (LEO), supporting preparations for a future beyond the International Space Station (ISS).

12/09/2026 316 views

Press Release N° 48–2026

Science & Exploration

ESA and Starlab sign a Letter of Intent related to the post-ISS era

The European Space Agency (ESA) and Starlab have signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) to further explore future cooperation in Low Earth Orbit (LEO), building on discussions initiated in 2023. This LoIreflects a shared interest in ensuring continued access to space-based research and astronaut missions beyond the International Space Station (ISS) era.

12/09/2026 352 views

Press Release N° 47–2026

Science & Exploration

ESA signs service contract with The Exploration Company for its Nyx vehicle under ‘ALADDIN’, the European autonomous cargo capsule project

The European Space Agency (ESA) has awarded a service contract to The Exploration Company (TEC), for the next phase of Europe’s commercial cargo return programme (previously known as LCRS), marking a significant step toward establishing an independent European capability for transportation to and from low Earth orbit.

10/09/2026 1238 views

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