Reflecting on deep space

Operations image of the week: This 32-metre antenna is undergoing an important transformation. Soon, it will be ready to communicate with spacecraft across deep space

Planning the future

Updates on mission concepts for planetary defence, Solar System science and Mars exploration in this replay from the European Planetary Science Congress on 18 September 2019

'Space data' conference

Twice a year since 1982, space agencies around the world have met to develop standards for space communication & data systems. Find out more about the CCSDS 2019 meeting in Darmstadt, Germany, over 21-24 October

What are we looking at?

Every moment, conversations are taking place between antennas across the globe and missions exploring our planet, Solar System and deep space. So, what is ESA's 35-m antenna in Australia looking at?

Track our spacecraft

For the first time ever, you can follow ESA's fleet of spacecraft in Earth orbit and traversing deep space, using real-time data from the Agency's global network of tracking antennas. Try the brand new 'ESTRACK now'!

Register now!

ESA's 8th international workshop on tracking, telemetry and command systems for space will be held at the Agency's operations centre in Darmstadt, Germany from 24-27 September

Speaking to spacecraft

Operations image of the week: This giant dish in Australia spends its time in in-depth conversation with a number of European deep space missions, bringing their discoveries down to Earth

Martian coming & going

A piece of Mars itself – that came to Earth after an asteroid or comet struck the Martian surface – has been used to calibrate a camera soon to be launched to the Red Planet

ESA’s wandering eye

Discover the 1-m telescope on the volcanic island of Tenerife, Spain, providing crucial information on space debris and risky asteroids

A space-inspired city

Operations image of the week: What do you get if you cross a space agency with a city? A space-inspired, intelligent, digital city!

Latest News

Controlling robots across oceans and space – no magic required02 October 2019

Controlling robots across oceans and space – no magic required02 October 2019 This Autumn is seeing a number of experiments controlling robots from afar, with ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano directing a robot in The Netherlands and engineers in Germany controlling a rover in Canada.

Plaskett and companion craters - AMIE mosaic

Follow live: Magically exploring ‘the Moon’ from afar24 September 2019

Follow live: Magically exploring ‘the Moon’ from afar24 September 2019 As Europe sleeps, in the early hours of Wednesday 25 September, a small rover in Canada will explore a mock lunar surface, controlled from ESA’s ESOC operations centre in Germany.

Angelic halo orbit chosen for humankind’s first lunar outpost18 July 2019

Angelic halo orbit chosen for humankind’s first lunar outpost18 July 2019 Mission planners at NASA and ESA’s Operations Centre (ESOC) have spent months debating the pros and cons of different orbits, and have now decided on the path of the lunar Gateway.

Gaia’s biggest operation since launch15 July 2019

Gaia’s biggest operation since launch15 July 2019 On Tuesday 16 July, teams at ESA’s mission control will perform an ‘orbit change manoeuvre’ on the Gaia space observatory – the biggest operation since the spacecraft was launched in 2013.

Space agencies come together14 June 2019

Space agencies come together14 June 2019 On 14 June, President Hiroshi Yamakawa of JAXA was welcomed at the 282nd meeting of the ESA Council – the Agency’s governing body – held at ESA’s Operations Centre in Darmstadt, Germany. For decades, the European Space Agency and the Japan Aeros...

New era for New Norcia deep space antenna04 June 2019

New era for New Norcia deep space antenna04 June 2019 The 35-m deep space antenna in New Norcia, Western Australia, is being looked after by a new team, led for the first time by a female site manager, Suzy Jackson.

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