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About ESA

The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe’s gateway to space. Its mission is to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.

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ESA - United space in Europe

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Establishments & sites

ESA Headquarters ESA ESTEC ESA ESOC ESA ESRIN ESA EAC ESA ESAC Europe's Spaceport ESA ESEC ESA ECSAT Brussels Office Washington Office

Working with ESA

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Latest

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Cat’s Paw Nebula (NIRCam)

Week in images: 07-11 July 2025

Discover our week through the lens

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Earth from Space: Lake District, UK

11/07/2025 8636 views 60 likes
The varied landscape of England’s Lake District is featured in this image captured by the Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission.
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Story
Group picture of the signatories of the 50Y ESA Anniversary statement.
Agency

ESA Council receives Anniversary Statement

11/07/2025 278 views 3 likes
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Applications

MTG-S1 and Copernicus Sentinel-4 mission highlights

02/07/2025 1118 views 41 likes
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Press Release N° 24–2024
Science & Exploration

ESA and NASA join forces to land Europe’s rover on Mars

ESA and NASA are consolidating their cooperation on the ExoMars Rosalind Franklin mission with an agreement that ensures important US contributions, such as the launch service, elements of the propulsion system needed for landing on Mars and heater units for the Rosalind Franklin rover.
16/05/2024 5126 views
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Space in Member States

Find out more about space activities in our 23 Member States, and understand how ESA works together with their national agencies, institutions and organisations.

Germany Germany Austria Austria Belgium Belgium Denmark Denmark Spain Spain Estonia Estonia Finland Finland France France Greece Greece Hungary Hungary Ireland Ireland Italy Italy Luxembourg Luxembourg Norway Norway The Netherlands The Netherlands Poland Poland Portugal Portugal Czechia Czechia Romania Romania United Kingdom United Kingdom Slovenia Slovenia Sweden Sweden Switzerland Switzerland

Science & Exploration

Exploring our Solar System and unlocking the secrets of the Universe

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Programmes

Space Science Human and Robotic Exploration

Astronauts

Sophie Adenot
Pablo Álvarez Fernández
Rosemary Coogan
Samantha Cristoforetti
Alexander Gerst
Raphaël Liégeois
Matthias Maurer
Andreas Mogensen
Luca Parmitano
Thomas Pesquet
Marco Sieber

Missions

Juice Euclid Webb Solar Orbiter BepiColombo Gaia ExoMars Cheops Exoplanet missions More missions

Activities

International Space Station Orion service module Gateway Concordia Caves & Pangaea Benefits

Latest

Story
Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski in Cupola
Science & Exploration

Watch live: Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski returns to Earth

11/07/2025 854 views 10 likes
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Science & Exploration

Webb spots a starburst shining in infrared

30/06/2025 2190 views 75 likes
A starburst shines in infrared (MIRI)
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Science & Exploration

Solar Orbiter gets world-first views of the Sun’s south pol…

11/06/2025 5234 views 50 likes
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Press Release N° 49–2024
Science & Exploration

ESA 3D prints first metal part on the International Space Station

The first metal 3D printer in space, a collaboration between ESA and Airbus, has printed its first metal product on the International Space Station, a breakthrough in crew autonomy for future long-duration exploration missions.
06/09/2024 3884 views
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Science & Exploration

Space science from home: resources for children and adults

A selection of activities to pass time and learn more about space science

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Space Safety

Protecting life and infrastructure on Earth and in orbit

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About space safety

Protecting our Pale Blue Dot Space Safety at ESA

Asteroids

Asteroids and Planetary Defence Asteroid danger explained Flyeye telescope: asteroid detection Hera mission: asteroid deflection Near-Earth Object Coordination Centre

Space junk

About space debris Space debris by the numbers Space Environment Report In space refuelling, refurbishing and removing

Safety from space

Clean Space ecodesign Zero Debris Technologies Space for Earth Supporting Sustainable Development

Space weather

Solar Hazards ESA Vigil: providing solar warning Space Weather Warning Network

Latest

Story
Artist impression of ‘Oumuamua
Space Safety

ESA tracks rare interstellar comet

03/07/2025 31924 views 332 likes
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Space Safety

Close approach of asteroid (424482) 2008 DG5

04/06/2025 1396 views 28 likes
Close approach of asteroid (424482) 2008 DG5
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Video 01:07:58
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Space Safety

Media briefing: Europe's top experts address the growing th…

01/04/2025 1224 views 7 likes
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Space Safety

James Webb Space Telescope will study asteroid 2024 YR4

Webb will provide a more accurate estimate of the asteroid's size

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Applications

Using space to benefit citizens and meet future challenges on Earth

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Observing the Earth

Observing the Earth Future EO Copernicus Meteorology Space for our climate Satellite missions

Connectivity

Connectivity and Secure Communications ARTES Moonlight Civil security from space

Satellite navigation

Satellite navigation Galileo EGNOS NAVISP Genesis LEO-PNT

Commercialisation

ESA Commercialisation Gateway Open Space Innovation Platform Business Incubation ESA Space Solutions

Latest

Image
Applications

Earth from Space: Lake District, UK

11/07/2025 8636 views 60 likes
The varied landscape of England’s Lake District is featured in this image captured by the Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission.
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Story
FutureEO
Applications

Watch live: Earth Explorer 11 User Consultation Meeting

07/07/2025 976 views 15 likes
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Video 00:02:18
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Applications

ESA’s Space Systems for Safety and Security (4S) programme

20/11/2024 2544 views 29 likes
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Press Release N° 1–2024
Applications

Media invitation: Last chance to see the EarthCARE cloud and aerosol satellite in Europe

On 1 February, media representatives have the unique opportunity of seeing  the EarthCARE satellite up close in the cleanroom at Airbus facilities in Friedrichshafen, Germany, before the spacecraft is packed up and shipped to California, USA, for a launch scheduled in May.
11/01/2024 4317 views
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ESA Φ-week 2021
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Register for Φ-week

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Enabling & Support

Making space accessible and developing the technologies for the future

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Building missions

Space Engineering and Technology Test centre Laboratories Concurrent Design Facility Preparing for the future Shaping the Future Discovery and Preparation Advanced Concepts Team

Space transportation

Space Transportation Ariane Vega Space Rider Future space transportation Boost! Europe's Spaceport Launches from Europe's Spaceport from 2012

Flying missions

Operations ESA ground stations Ground Systems Engineering

Latest

Story
Entrance to Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana
Enabling & Support

New agreements for next decade of launches at Europe’s Spac…

10/07/2025 709 views 13 likes
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Enabling & Support

Students take 3D-printed rovers for a spin

03/07/2025 733 views 33 likes
Students take 3D-printed rovers for a spin
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Enabling & Support

Proba-3 lift-off replay

05/12/2024 3601 views 66 likes
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Juice approaches Earth
Enabling & Support

Blog: Juice's lunar-Earth flyby

Follow for the latest updates as ESA's Jupiter mission swings through the Earth system this summer

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Press Release N° 8–2024
Enabling & Support

Call for interest: Ariane 6 launch media events at Europe’s Spaceport

Media representatives are invited to express their interest in attending media events at Europe's Spaceport at Kourou, French Guiana, for the first flight of Europe's new rocket Ariane 6. Journalists wishing to participate in either or both the pre-launch and launch media programmes detailed below, are asked to submit their application via ESA’s media accreditation page by Friday 1 March 2024.
19/02/2024 2598 views
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Enabling & Support

ESTEC's royal visit

17/12/2014 7601 views
ESA / Enabling & Support / Space Engineering & Technology / Highlights

King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands was among visitors to ESTEC on 16 December 2014 to mark 50 years of European cooperation in space. For details, see link.

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    King greets students

    17/12/2014 584 views 4 likes
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    King greets students
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    King welcomed

    17/12/2014 1625 views 1 likes
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    King welcomed
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    Distinguished and royal attendees

    17/12/2014 390 views 1 likes
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    Distinguished and royal attendees
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    ESA's Director General

    17/12/2014 1010 views 1 likes
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    ESA's Director General
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    Students share space-related work

    17/12/2014 307 views 2 likes
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    Students share space-related work
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    King with ESA Directors

    17/12/2014 510 views 1 likes
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    King with ESA Directors
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    European student satellite

    17/12/2014 658 views 4 likes
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    European student satellite
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    Reception

    17/12/2014 411 views 1 likes
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    Reception
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    Royal signing

    17/12/2014 314 views 1 likes
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    Royal signing
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    Watching media

    17/12/2014 319 views 2 likes
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    Watching media
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