Commemorating 50 years of Earth Observation
At the occasion of the Living Planet Symposium in Vienna, a special session on 24 June 2025 was dedicated to the commemoration of 50 years of Satellite Earth Observation in the framework of ESA’s 50th anniversary. The session panel was composed of Josef Aschbacher (Director General, ESA), Simonetta Cheli (Director Earth Observation Programmes, ESA), Volker Liebig (Honorary Professor, Institute of Space Systems, University of Stuttgart and former EO Director, ESA), Stephen Briggs (Visiting Professor, Reading University, Department of Meteorology, Cambridge University, Department of Chemistry) and Maurice Borgeaud (Chair Earth Science Panel European Space Science Council (ESSC) and former Head of Science, Applications and Climate Activities, ESA). It provided an overview on 50 years of highlights in Earth Observation by ESA serving society. The hallmarks of these achievements can be found here.
The session was held in particular honour of Roy Gibson, first ESA Director General, who is 100 years old now and still demonstrates vivid interest in ESA’s activities. Since he was particularly instrumental in shaping ESA’s Earth Observations activities in the early times of ESA’s existence, numerous recollections were shared by the panellists on his achievements and contributions. During the session, the newly set up Roy Gibson Fellowship on Space Policy was announced, sponsored by ESA and the UK Space Agency and implemented by ESPI. The audience welcomed the session as a particularly relevant contribution to the 50th anniversary of ESA. Only a few days after the session, two remarkable Earth Observation Satellites (Sentinel 4 and Meteosat Third Generation-S1) were successfully launched showing the continuously outstanding dynamic of ESA’s Earth Observation programme, led by Simonetta Cheli.
Contact: Teevi.Subert@esa.int