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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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Latest

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The image from Copernicus Sentinel-3 shows a Saharan dust storm over the Atlantic Ocean, with the Canary Islands visible off the coast of Morocco.

Week in images: 30 March - 03 April 2026

Discover our week through the lens

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Science & Exploration

A pair of planet-forming discs

03/04/2026 742 views 26 likes
A pair of planet-forming discs
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Story
Comet 3I/ATLAS seen by Juice’s science camera
Science & Exploration

Five things Juice has revealed about Comet 3I/ATLAS

02/04/2026 4936 views 63 likes
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Science & Exploration

Artemis II: Journey to the Moon begins

02/04/2026 5215 views 88 likes
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Press Release N° 5–2026
Agency

Laurent Jaffart appointed Director of Resilience, Navigation and Connectivity

The European Space Agency Council has approved the reassignment of Laurent Jaffart, currently Director of Connectivity and Secure Communications (D/CSC) to the newly created position of Director of Resilience, Navigation and Connectivity Directorate (D/RNC), which will take effect from 1 February 2026.
30/01/2026 3561 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

A pair of planet-forming discs

03/04/2026 742 views 26 likes
A pair of planet-forming discs
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Story
Smile lifts off into space (artist impression)
Science & Exploration

How to follow the Smile launch live

02/04/2026 863 views 17 likes
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Science & Exploration

Plato passes vibe check

15/01/2026 3039 views 42 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 8982 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

Space weather and its hazards ESA Vigil: providing solar warning ESA Space Weather Service Network

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Space Safety

Flyeye: ESA’s automated asteroid hunters

23/03/2026 334 views 6 likes
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Story
Hera approaching Didymos asteroids
Space Safety

Hera on course for asteroid rendezvous

17/03/2026 3274 views 74 likes
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Space Safety

Hera mission poster

17/03/2026 721 views 19 likes
Hera mission poster
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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 Celeste

Commercialisation

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

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Applications

Earth from Space: Eyes on our Moon

03/04/2026 2366 views 57 likes
In an unusual perspective for an Earth-observing satellite, the Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission captures this image of Earth’s only natural satellite.
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View from orbit as satellites are deployed during the Transporter‑16 rideshare mission.
Applications

Seven missions launched to test optimised data transfer fro…

31/03/2026 1432 views 36 likes
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Applications

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

20/11/2024 6883 views 46 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 7241 views
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ESA Φ-week 2021
Applications

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 Shaping the Future Discovery and Preparation Advanced Concepts Team ESA Young Professionals Satellites

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

Image
Enabling & Support

A silicon chip that can do it all

02/04/2026 1222 views 28 likes
A silicon chip that can do it all
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Experiment piggyback flying with a Chinese capsule in 1987
Enabling & Support

From waste to resource: ESA funds circular economy innovati…

02/04/2026 201 views 8 likes
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Video 00:02:27
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Enabling & Support

Proba-3 lift-off replay

05/12/2024 5680 views 72 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 7705 views
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