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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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Latest

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This image, captured by the Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission on 6 January 2026, shows Amsterdam in the Netherlands blanketed in snow.

Week in images: 05-09 January 2026

Discover our week through the lens

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Agency

ESA Director General’s 2026 annual press briefing

08/01/2026 1879 views 34 likes
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Agency

ESA and Playmobil launch Mars mission collection

08/01/2026 2735 views 19 likes
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Applications

Snow-covered Amsterdam

07/01/2026 22737 views 327 likes
This image, captured by the Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission on 6 January 2026, shows Amsterdam in the Netherlands blanketed in snow.
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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 7797 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

Image
Science & Exploration

Finding the echo

08/01/2026 612 views 26 likes
ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot training on EchoFinder‑2.
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Story
Mars Express sees sandblasted wind sculptures near Eumenides Dorsum
Science & Exploration

Sandblasting on Mars

07/01/2026 2341 views 54 likes
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Science & Exploration

The journey of Juice – episode 2

11/12/2025 2895 views 64 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 6583 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

Latest

Story
ESA's Planetary Defence  team
Space Safety

10 asteroids named to honour ESA’s role in Planetary Defence

13/01/2026 864 views 20 likes
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Space Safety

Draco: atmospheric reentry from the inside

12/12/2025 1694 views 28 likes
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Space Safety

ESA Space Safety Fleet

30/10/2025 5469 views 77 likes
ESA Space Safety Fleet
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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

Latest

Story
Small clearing in tropical forest
Applications

Tiny patches of deforestation drive tropical carbon loss

08/01/2026 1893 views 46 likes
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Applications

Earth from Space: Manicouagan crater

19/12/2025 5391 views 62 likes
This week Earth from Space features a wintery image: a red and white sphere that, if seen from a distance, resembles a festive decoration.
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Applications

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

20/11/2024 5376 views 41 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 6419 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 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

Virtual tour of ESA’s Test Centre gets a makeover

14/01/2026 652 views 19 likes
Virtual tour of ESA’s Test Centre gets a makeover
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Story
Ariane 6 flight VA267 main stage in the launcher assembly building
Enabling & Support

Assembling the first Ariane 6 with four boosters at Europe’…

09/01/2026 626 views 16 likes
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Enabling & Support

Proba-3 lift-off replay

05/12/2024 5321 views 70 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 5054 views
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