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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

This is ESA ESA facts Member States & Cooperating States Funding Director General Top management For Member State Delegations European vision European Space Policy ESA & EU Space Councils Responsibility & Sustainability Annual Report Calendar of meetings Corporate news

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

Business with ESA ESA Commercialisation Gateway Law at ESA Careers Cyber resilience at ESA IT at ESA Newsroom Partnerships Merchandising Licence Education Open Space Innovation Platform Integrity and Reporting Administrative Tribunal Health and Safety

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History ESA Historical Archives Exhibitions Publications Art & Culture ESA Merchandise Kids Diversity ESA Brand Centre

Latest

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Swirling spiral in Hydra

Week in images: 21-25 July 2025

Discover our week through the lens

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Applications

Earth from Space: Kuwaiti waters

25/07/2025 359 views 19 likes
The turquoise waters southeast of the Kuwaiti island of Failaka are captured in this image acquired by the Φsat-2 mission.
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Fuelling MetOp-SG-A1
Applications

First MetOp Second Generation satellite fuelled

24/07/2025 788 views 16 likes
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Science & Exploration

Ignis Mission: Return to Earth

23/07/2025 500 views 17 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 5187 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

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Science & Exploration

ExoMars parachute high-altitude drop test

21/07/2025 1216 views 30 likes
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Story
Deployment of largest Mars parachute on Earth
Science & Exploration

ExoMars parachutes ready for martian deployment

21/07/2025 5417 views 60 likes
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Science & Exploration

You can’t judge a star by its protoplanetary disc

14/07/2025 1651 views 58 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 3939 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
Space weather reporter Vigil in deep space
Space Safety

Vigil’s tools as a space weather reporter

17/07/2025 1029 views 11 likes
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Space Safety

Vigil: ESA’s space weather reporter in deep space

17/07/2025 1224 views 52 likes
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Space Safety

Close approach of asteroid (424482) 2008 DG5

04/06/2025 1427 views 28 likes
Close approach of asteroid (424482) 2008 DG5
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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

Story
Measuring atmospheric composition
Applications

Weather, climate, ozone and UV radiation

9 views 0 likes
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Image
Applications

Earth from Space: Kuwaiti waters

25/07/2025 359 views 19 likes
The turquoise waters southeast of the Kuwaiti island of Failaka are captured in this image acquired by the Φsat-2 mission.
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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 2605 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 4338 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
Space Transportation future logo
Enabling & Support

Future Space Transportation

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Enabling & Support

Students take 3D-printed rovers for a spin

03/07/2025 856 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 3629 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 2616 views
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Science & Exploration

Comet close-ups

22/01/2015 2317 views
ESA / Science & Exploration / Space Science / Rosetta / Highlights
High-resolution images from ESA’s Rosetta spacecraft reveal an incredible array of surface features on the comet
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    Science & Exploration

    Crack extension in Anuket

    22/01/2015 9278 views 40 likes
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    Crack extension in Anuket
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    Science & Exploration

    Comet from 8 km

    22/01/2015 20404 views 111 likes
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    Comet from 8 km
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    Science & Exploration

    Hapi and Hathor

    22/01/2015 7117 views 23 likes
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    Hapi and Hathor
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    Science & Exploration

    Dune-like structures

    22/01/2015 2584 views 4 likes
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    Dune-like structures
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    Science & Exploration

    Collapsing cliffs

    22/01/2015 3522 views 9 likes
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    Collapsing cliffs
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    Science & Exploration

    Exploring Imhotep

    22/01/2015 4658 views 20 likes
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    Exploring Imhotep
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    Science & Exploration

    Imhotep (side)

    22/01/2015 4748 views 10 likes
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    Imhotep (side)
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    Science & Exploration

    Tectonic features and ponded deposits

    22/01/2015 2375 views 6 likes
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    Tectonic features and ponded deposits
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    Science & Exploration

    Fractures, uplift and debris

    22/01/2015 2401 views 5 likes
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    Fractures, uplift and debris
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    Science & Exploration

    A dynamic surface

    22/01/2015 3162 views 7 likes
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    A dynamic surface
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    Science & Exploration

    Flow on the surface

    22/01/2015 2603 views 5 likes
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    Flow on the surface
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    Science & Exploration

    Icy alcoves?

    22/01/2015 4492 views 11 likes
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    Icy alcoves?
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    Science & Exploration

    Comet goose bumps (a)

    22/01/2015 5594 views 9 likes
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    Comet goose bumps (a)
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    Science & Exploration

    Active pit in the Seth region: enhanced

    22/01/2015 4162 views 18 likes
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    Active pit in the Seth region: enhanced
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