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ESA’s highlights in 2025

ESA Strategy 2040
ARCHIVE CONTENT 28 JUL. 2025 publication date 14339 Views

This year will mark the European Space Agency’s 50th anniversary and promises to be a landmark year for the European aerospace industry. In addition to milestone events in our programmes, September will also mark 30 years of satellite navigation for Europe. This spring brings the second commercial mission involving a project astronaut to the International Space Station on Axiom Mission 4, while events such as ESA's Living Planet Symposium and the International Paris Air Show will gather the space community face to face.

Throughout the year, ESA media relations will notify media of opportunities as they arise to attend launches, to view spacecraft in cleanrooms, and to interact with ESA experts for key events. Each ESA Council will be followed by an information session for which we will also issue invitations.

Please note that dates below may be subject to change. ESA will provide precise date information closer to the events.  We remain at your service for enquiries and interview requests.

MetOp-SG and Sentinel-5 launch
Date: NET 12 August

Celebration of 30 years of satellite navigation
Date: 2 September
Positioning, navigation and timing technologies and services have revolutionised life in the past three decades – and there's more to come with the advent of LEO-PNT, the Genesis programme and HydroGNSS using navigation satellites to collect data for science, and the Moonlight programme preparing for navigation on the surface of the Moon.

ESA Open Day at ESOC
Date: 12 September

World Space Business Week
Date: 15-19 September
Held annually in Paris, World Space Business Week will return for discussions and networking. More information: https://wsbw.com/

ESA Open Day at Headquarters
Date: 20 September
Public day at ESA Headquarters in Paris including presentations on stage from mission specialists.

German talents day at the European Astronaut Centre
Date: 20 September

ESA Open Day at ESRIN
Date: 26 September

ESA Open Day at ESAC
Date: 4 October

76th International Astronautical Congress in Sydney, Australia
Date: 29 September - 3 October
ESA Directors including the Director General will be on site in Sydney where ESA will also have a stand in the exhibition - we will contact media with the programme closer to the date. ‘Sustainable Space: Resilient Earth’ is the theme for IAC 2025 in Sydney. It highlights the crucial link between space innovation and sustainability, concentrating on three main areas: space-based applications for Earth, sustainable space activities, and sustaining life beyond Earth. More information: https://www.iac2025.org/about/theme/

New Norcia 3 antenna inauguration
Date: 4 October
ESA's fourth deep-space ground station, the New Norcia 3 antenna in Western Australia, will allow distant missions to send and receive increased volumes of data across the inner Solar System. The station will support ESA’s current and future scientific, exploration and space safety missions and provide cross-support to missions flown by international partners. More information: https://www.esa.int/media/esa-crowns-new-deep-space-antenna-in-australia https://www.esa.int/articles/about-us/directorates/operations/esa-ground-stations/new-norcia-dsa-1

Astronaut reserve training – second segment
Date: Q3
Members of the ESA astronaut reserve will continue their training during the European autumn, including a parabolic flight campaign.

HydroGNSS launch
Date: Q3/Q4
The Earth observation Scout mission, HydroGNSS, will provide measurements of key hydrological climate variables, including soil moisture, freeze–thaw state over permafrost, inundation and wetlands, and above-ground biomass. The satellite uses a technique called Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) reflectometry – taking advantage of signals from satellites like those in Galileo to characterise Earth's surface. In doing so, it will complement missions such as ESA’s SMOS and Biomass, Copernicus Sentinel-1 and NASA’s SMAP. Scout missions are designed for rapid development, taking three years from kick-off to launch. More information: https://www.esa.int/articles/about-us/directorates/earth-observation-programmes/futureeo/hydrognss/hydrognss-twice-as-good

Galileo Emergency Warning Satellite System
Date: Q3
A new service from the Galileo constellation that will disseminate alert messages to people in areas threatened by an imminent natural or manmade disaster. Galileo satellites will transmit to smartphones or other devices that receive Galileo signals, delivering information related to the hazard, its timing, expected duration and instructions to follow. More information: https://www.euspa.europa.eu/newsroom-events/news/galileo-emergency-warning-satellite-service-underway

Sentinel-1D launch
Date: Q3
The Copernicus Sentinel-1 mission is designed as a two-satellite constellation. Each satellite carries an advanced radar instrument to provide an all-weather, day-and-night supply of imagery of Earth’s surface. Sentinel-1D will also include improved capabilities for detecting and monitoring maritime traffic, through their integrated Automatic Identification Systems. More information: https://www.esa.int/about-us/directorates/earth-observation-programmes/sentinel-1

Juice Venus flyby
Date: Q3
Launched in April 2023, Juice will continue its eight-year journey to Jupiter with a gravity-assist manoeuvre at Venus. More information: https://www.esa.int/articles/about-us/directorates/science/juice/juice-factsheet

First low-gravity system installed in LUNA
Date: Q3
Europe's 'Moon on Earth' reaches a new phase of fidelity as the first low-gravity system is installed at LUNA. The 'Gravity offloading system’ uses trolleys and cables suspended from the ceiling so that astronauts or rovers attached to them can move as if they were in lunar gravity and feel as if they are one-sixth of the weight they normally experience on Earth. More information: https://www.esa.int/media/luna-europe-s-moon-on-earth

ESA Open Days at ESTEC
Date: 11-12 October

ESA 50th anniversary celebration at ESAC
Date: 16 October

ESA Council media information session
Date: 23 October (TBC)
Invitations and registration information to be published in advance.

International GNSS Day
Date: 23 October
In partnership with ION - The Institute of Navigation

ESPI Autumn Conference
Date: 28-29 October
Taking place in Vienna under the theme: Europe as a Space Power - Directionality & Priorities of Strategic Action. More information: https://www.ac.espi.or.at/b?p=ac2025

COP30 in Brazil
Date: 10-21 November

25th ESA Ministerial Council (CM25) in Bremen, Germany
Date: 26-27 November
Germany is hosting the ESA Ministerial Council in 2025 where key decisions will be taken that will shape the future of Europe's space ambitions.

ESA Council media information session
Date: 18 December (TBC)
Invitations and registration information to be published in advance.

First flight of Ariane 64
Date: Q3/Q4
Following the successful inaugural flight of the European launcher Ariane 6 in 2024, this year will see the debut of the Ariane 64 version. Ariane 6 is available in two versions depending on the performance required: a version with two boosters, called Ariane 62; and Ariane 64 with four boosters. Ariane 64 can launch payloads of approximately 11.5 tonnes into geostationary transfer orbit and 21.6 tonnes into low Earth orbit. Ariane 64 will launch from the Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana. More information: https://www.esa.int/articles/about-us/directorates/space-transportation/launch-vehicles/ariane-6-overview

Cluster-1 reentry
Date: Q4
After its two decades of scientific achievements, Cluster is now helping ESA to improve space sustainability. Following the reentry of the first of four Cluster spacecraft in 2024, the second (also known as Rumba) will return in 2025. By using targeted reentry, ESA’s space safety experts can study how and when the spacecraft burn up in the atmosphere and help future spacecraft design and operation. More information: https://www.esa.int/articles/about-us/directorates/science/cluster/goodnight-cluster-brilliant-end-to-trailblazing-mission

Sentinel-6B launch
Date: Q4
The second satellite of the Sentinel-6 series, Sentinel-6B will be launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9. Sentinel-6 is the reference altimeter mission used to homogenise other satellite altimeter data to provide measurements of sea-level rise every 10 days, with data delivered in near-real time. More information: https://www.esa.int/about-us/directorates/earth-observation-programmes/sentinel-6

LEO-PNT ready for launch
Date: Q4
The LEO-PNT (Low Earth Orbit Positioning, Navigation and Timing) demonstrator mission will feature a 10-satellite constellation that will fly close to Earth to test innovative signals across various frequency bands. It will assess how a low Earth orbit fleet can work in combination with Galileo, EGNOS and other GNSS in a multi-layer approach to optimise the provision of services, increasing overall PNT resilience and robustness, and enabling new services. More information: https://www.esa.int/Applications/Satellite_navigation/LEO-PNT

Completed activities

BepiColombo flyby of Mercury
Date: 8 January

The ESA/JAXA BepiColombo mission flew past Mercury for the sixth time, making its closest approach on 8 January. This flyby will help steer the spacecraft into orbit around the innermost planet late in 2026.

Director General’s annual press briefing at ESA’s headquarters in Paris 
Date: 9 January

ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher, along with ESA Directors, hosted their annual start-of-the-year press briefing, providing insights into the upcoming year. The recording of the event is available here: https://www.esa.int/media/esa-director-general-s-annual-press-briefing-en-367730

Twentieth anniversary of Huygens landing
Date: 14 January

Launched in 1997, Cassini-Huygens was an historic mission. ESA's Huygens probe was attached to the Cassini spacecraft for the long journey to Saturn before making its solo cruise to land on Saturn's largest moon, Titan.

17th European Space conference
Date: 28-29 January

Meet ESA spokespeople in Brussels as policymakers, space agencies and space industry representatives assemble for two days of panels and meetings. More information: 17th European Space Conference – Meet the leaders shaping Europe's future

Gaia end of scientific operations
Date: 15 January

After more than 10 years in space, one of the most productive space science missions in history will complete its observations and be redirected to a retirement orbit, so future spacecraft can safely orbit the Sun-Earth L2 Lagrangian point. Gaia has already revolutionised our understanding of the Milky Way and yielded incredible discoveries about the Universe – but scientific discoveries will continue long into the future through the analysis of the unprecedented legacy of data. The biggest data release of the mission, the full survey catalogue, is still to come in 2026.

Biomass cleanroom visit
Date: 11 February

Scheduled to launch in Q2, the Biomass satellite will be available for a cleanroom visit. The satellite is one of ESA's Earth Explorers, pioneering new technologies for Earth observation. The event will take place at Airbus facilities in Toulouse, France.

Solar Orbiter Venus flyby
Date: Q1

Gravity-assist flybys of Venus allow Solar Orbiter to get into the orbit it needs for its scientific tasks. This Venus flyby will increase the inclination of the spacecraft's orbit from about 7.7 to around 17 degrees.

Gateway modules progress visit
Date: 20 February

ESA and Thales Alenia Space will invite media to an event at Thales Alenia Space in Turin, Italy, ahead of the departure of the NASA’s Habitation and Logistics Outpost (HALO) module to the United States. The visit will also offer the opportunity to see the developing iHAB module – ESA’s habitation module for the Gateway – and explore the Lunar I-Hab mock-up, recently used by ESA and NASA astronauts to test and refine its interior design. Interview opportunities with expert speakers will be available.
More information:ESA - Gateway

MTG-S and Sentinel-4 cleanroom visit
Date: 20 February

Scheduled to launch in Q3, the first Meteosat Third Generation Sounder and Sentinel-4 satellite will be available to see in the OHB cleanroom in Bremen, Germany, before shipment to the launch site in the United States.

End of Integral science
Date: 28 February

Following more than two decades of observations that have yielded thousands of scientific papers, Integral science operations will conclude. The spacecraft is scheduled for re-entry to Earth's atmosphere in 2029.

Hera Mars flyby
Date: Q2

Hera will receive a gravity assist from Mars on its two-year journey to the Didymos binary asteroid system. The trajectory designed by ESA teams will allow for opportunistic science as Hera will fly past the martian moon Deimos at a distance of just 300 km.

Euclid Quick Data Release 1
Date: 19 March 2025

The first release of the Euclid nominal survey data will be ready to share with the scientific community. It will contain astronomical data covering 53 square degrees of the sky, including a preview of the Euclid Deep Field areas, and millions of galaxies and stars observed in extraordinary detail. These data will take scientists around the world – and all of humankind – to the unknown 95% of the Universe, the mysterious realm of dark matter and dark energy. ‘Quick data release 1’ will not be on cosmology, but rather on legacy science, galaxy formation, dwarfs, clusters, strong lenses from galaxy zoo, etc. Cosmology results are planned to be release in October 2026.

ESA Council media information session
Date: 20 March

European Launcher Challenge – invitation to tender
Date: 24 March

To prepare for the future and increase competitiveness in the industry, European space companies will be challenged to propose space transportation service initiatives, with candidates to be selected within 2025.

Gaia passivation
Date: 27 March

After more than 10 years in space, one of the most productive space science missions in history will complete its observations and be redirected to a retirement orbit, so future spacecraft can safely orbit the Sun-Earth L2 Lagrangian point. Gaia has already revolutionised our understanding of the Milky Way and yielded incredible discoveries about the Universe – but scientific discoveries will continue long into the future through the analysis of the unprecedented legacy of data. The biggest data release of the mission, the full survey catalogue, is still to come in 2026.

IRIDE Pathfinder Hawk first image
Date: 28 March

As a prototype, the Pathfinder for the Hawk for Earth Observation constellation, launched on 14 January, will use its camera-like instrument to show how the constellation can image with a ground resolution of just three metres. Initiated by the Italian Government, the IRIDE programme uses resources from the EU-funded Recovery and Resilience Plan for Italy (PNRR), along with funding from Italy’s National Complementary Plan. ESA is working with ASI to realise the six satellite constellations for the IRIDE programme.

9th European Conference on Space Debris
Date: 1-4 April

ESA's Space Debris team will host the largest dedicated gathering on space debris in Bonn, Germany. Speakers include scientists, engineers, spacecraft operators, industry experts, lawyers and policymakers tackling space debris assessment, mitigation and regulations.

MetOp cleanroom event
Date: 8 April

Visit the MetOp Second Generation A-type weather satellites that will also carry Sentinel 5. The Metop-SG satellites are developed under ESA contract by a European industrial consortium led by Airbus Defence and Space.

ESA50 Celebrations at ESTEC
Date: 14 April

Biomass launch

Carrying a novel P-band synthetic aperture radar, the Biomass mission is designed to deliver crucial information about the state of our forests and how they are changing, and to further our knowledge of the role forests play in the carbon cycle. Biomass will be launched with a Vega-C launcher from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana. First images will follow later in Q2.

More information: https://www.esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth/FutureEO/Biomass

ACES media briefing
Date: 17 April

In advance of the launch of the Atomic Clock Ensemble in Space on 21 April, media will be invited to an online press briefing. Latest images from the preparations for launch may also be found via @ESAspaceflight on X.

Hubble launch anniversary
Date: 24 April

Hubble reaches another milestone – the 35th anniversary of launch.
More information: ESA - Hubble overview

Second commercial mission to the ISS with ESA project astronaut 

Polish project astronaut  Sławosz Uznański  is scheduled to fly to the International Space Station on Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) no earlier than May 2025. Axiom Space  announced that it is partnering with India and Hungary, and with Poland - through ESA - to send three national astronauts to the International Space Station on Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4). ESA project astronaut Sławosz Uznański has been assigned as mission specialist under the command of Axiom Space’s Director of Human Spaceflight and astronaut Peggy Whitson. Numerous scientific experiments will be carried out during this short commercial mission, including 13 from Poland.

More information: https://www.esa.int/articles/about-us/directorates/human-and-robotic-exploration/slawosz-uznanski-from-poland-will-fly-to-international-space-station-on-fourth-axiom-space-mission

Information on media accreditation for launch: https://www.esa.int/media-advisories/news-media/media/media-advisories/n-14-2025-media-accreditation-for-ax-4-launch-with-esa-project-astronaut-slawosz-uznanski-wisniewski

Solar Orbiter pioneering images of uncharted polar regions of the Sun
Date: May/June

New images of the Sun's polar regions will be published - following Solar Orbiter's latest Venus flyby (https://www.esa.int/articles/about-us/directorates/operations/solar-orbiter-ready-for-close-encounter-with-venus), the spacecraft is now tilted to see new areas of the Sun . Those active media wishing to receive the images under embargo in advance should ensure they are subscribed to the relevant email list. More information: https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Solar_Orbiter

Estrack 50th anniversary
Date: 19 May and throughout the year

ESA's international ground station network enables missions by communicating with spacecraft – transmitting commands and receiving scientific data and spacecraft status information. Since its debut 50 years ago, Estrack has grown and developed. More information: https://www.esa.int/about-us/directorates/operations/esa-ground-stations

50th anniversary of the signature of the ESA Convention
Date: 30 May

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the signature of the ESA Convention, with a chance to reflect on achievements of the past and ambitions for the future. More information: https://www.esa.int/about-us/who-we-are/history

ESA Council media information session
Date: 12 June

Invitation and registration information to be published in advance. Replay available: https://www.esa.int/media/334th-esa-council-media-information-session

Le Bourget International Airshow, Paris, France 
Date: 16-22 June

ESA will be active at the International Paris Air Show, organised by SIAE, a branch of the French Aerospace Industries Association.
More information: https://www.siae.fr/en/

ESA had a full programme at the International Paris Air Show in Le Bourget - https://www.esa.int/about-us/meet-us/strategic-events/esa-at-le-bourget-2025

Including the release of the first image from Proba-3 https://www.esa.int/articles/proba-3-s-first-artificial-solar-eclipse

And the signing of the contract to build LISA https://www.esa.int/articles/about-us/directorates/science/lisa/construction-of-esa-s-ambitious-lisa-mission-begins

ESA's Living Planet Symposium, Vienna
Date: 23–27 June

Held every three years, ESA's Living Planet Symposium provides a forum for discussion on the latest scientific findings and applications based on satellite data, as well as a chance to review the contribution that data and technologies have made and opportunities for further development of these in addressing environmental and societal challenges. The theme for this year's event is ‘From Observation to Climate Action and Sustainability for Earth’. More information: https://lps25.esa.int/

Biomass first image release
Date: 23 June

ESA’s state-of-the-art Biomass satellite launched aboard a Vega-C rocket from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana on 29 April 2025 at 11:15 CEST (06:15 local time). In the context of the Living Planet Symposium, the first images from this latest Earth Explorer mission will be shared.

https://www.esa.int/articles/about-us/directorates/earth-observation-programmes/futureeo/biomass/biomass-satellite-returns-striking-first-images-of-forests-and-more

MTG-S and Sentinel-4 launch

Copernicus Sentinel-4 will monitor air quality, trace gases and aerosols over Europe at high spatial resolution every hour during the day. It will fly with the first of the sounder class satellites of the Meteosat Third Generation fleet. The first MTG-S satellite will introduce a groundbreaking infrared sounding capability, enhancing weather prediction accuracy even further.

ESA - MTG-S1 and Sentinel-4 launch to change how we see our atmosphere

UK Space Conference, Manchester
Date: 16-17 July

Includes a briefing on ESA's space weather mission, Vigil. Programme and further details: https://www.spaceconference.co.uk/2025/programme

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