Fictional planet Persephone

The enigmatic planet Persephone is a rocky orb lying at the furthest edge of the Solar System. Its mysterious heat source is thought to melt the sheets of ice that swathe the planet, raising the possibility that life could exist there. Meanwhile the oxygen content of its atmosphere could also support life – though humans will need additional oxygen to survive.

Discovered in 2028, Persephone has long fascinated scientists, forcing them to rethink theories of planetary formation. A rocky planet lying so far from the Sun suggests that Persephone might have previously existed within another stellar system and could have been ejected from its original orbit before being captured in its current position. Alternatively, Persephone may have been formed much later than the innermost planets of the Solar System – and in a completely different environment.

While determining the planetary formation of Persephone is technically beyond the scope of the Hope-01 mission, ESA astronauts Ariane Montclair and Thomas Cross have undertaken geological training to support the aim of their mission: to determine the origin and composition of the hypothesised heat source and evaluate Persephone’s possible habitability.

While Hope-01 is a fictional mission, it was created as part of a unique collaboration between ESA and the video game developer Don’t Nod, to bring scientific imagination to life in Aphelion – a sci-fi action-adventure game set for release in 2026. Developed with inspiration from real ESA missions and values, the story reflects how space exploration can spark curiosity, connect people, and help us reimagine our future.