N° 54–2025: Media Invitation: ESA-ESAC Open Day with ESA astronaut Pablo Álvarez

The programme offers journalists the opportunity to visit ESA’s science hub in Spain and to take part in a dedicated media briefing with ESA spokespeople, including Prof. Carole Mundell, ESA Director of Science and Head of ESAC, and ESA astronaut Pablo Álvarez.

This year, ESA will be joined by the Spanish Space Agency (AEE), highlighting Spain’s key contribution to Europe’s space exploration.

Media programme (11:00–12:00 CEST)

Roundtable with the participation of:

• Carole Mundell, ESA Director of Science and Head of ESAC
• Juan Carlos Cortés, Director Spanish Space Agency (AEE)
• Christophe Arviset, ESA Head of Data Science and Archive Division
• Pablo Álvarez, ESA Astronaut

What to expect from ESAC Open Day

The day will feature stage talks and more than 30 activities for all ages, including:

• Guided tours of ESAC, ESA’s “Window on the Universe”
• Talks with ESA scientists, engineers and astronauts
• Interactive workshops for all ages: astronaut training, asteroid hunting, LEGO space missions, rocket launches and more
• Immersive experiences: 3D exploration of the Solar System, Earth observation, and virtual mission tours

Media registration

Please register via the online form no later than 15:00 CEST on Friday, 3 October 2025. Registration is mandatory for access.

Media registration form: https://blogs.esa.int/forms/esa-media-briefing-form/

Getting to ESAC: https://www.esa.int/About_Us/ESAC/Getting_to_ESAC

Contact ESAC: https://www.esa.int/About_Us/ESAC/Contact_ESAC

Media contact

For further details, please contact: communicacionesac@esa.int

Images

ESA's Photo Library for Professionals:

https://www.esa-photolibrary.com/

Terms and conditions for using ESA images

For questions or more information related to ESA images, please contact directly spaceinimages@esa.int

Videos

ESA's Video Library for Professionals:

https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Videos

Terms and conditions for using ESA videos

For questions or more information related to ESA videos, please contact directly spaceinvideos@esa.int

Social Media

Follow ESA on:

X: @esa 

Bluesky: @esa

Facebook: @EuropeanSpaceAgency 

Instagram: @europeanspaceagency 

YouTube: ESA 

LinkedIn: European Space Agency - ESA 

Pinterest: European Space Agency - ESA 

About the European Space Agency

The European Space Agency (ESA) provides Europe’s gateway to space.  

ESA is an intergovernmental organisation, created in 1975, with the mission to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space delivers benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.  

ESA has 23 Member States: Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Latvia, Lithuania and Slovakia are Associate Members.  

ESA has established formal cooperation with four Member States of the EU. Canada takes part in some ESA programmes under a Cooperation Agreement.  

By coordinating the financial and intellectual resources of its members, ESA can undertake programmes and activities far beyond the scope of any single European country. It is working in particular with the EU on implementing the Galileo and Copernicus programmes as well as with Eumetsat for the development of meteorological missions.  

Learn more about ESA at www.esa.int