science-and-exploration3.705 min read
León hosts free ESA eclipse event for Europe’s total solar spectacle
1 month ago•Source: European Space Agency
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2.605 min•1 month ago
Artemis II crew visits ESA to honor European Service Module
Artemis II astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen visited ESA’s ESTEC in the Netherlands to meet the European Service Module team, tour facilities and labs, and receive a Program Award; they will also visit Airbus in Bremen and Thales Alenia Space in Turin as part of ongoing post-flight engagements.
4.305 min•2 months ago
ExoMars eyes ancient Martian clay beds for signs of life
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Smile mission set for May 19 launch to map Earth's response to solar wind
European Space Agency•4 months ago
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Hubble celebrates 36 years with a refreshed look at the Trifid Nebula
European Space Agency•4 months ago
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Crew-12 Set for SpaceX Dragon Flight to the ISS
Crew-12—Andrei Fedyaev, Jack Hathaway, Jessica Meir and Sophie Adenot—are slated to launch no earlier than Feb 11 from Cape Canaveral aboard SpaceX's Dragon, propelled by a Falcon 9, to the ISS for about nine months and to join Expeditions 74/75. Adenot and Hathaway will make their first spaceflight; Meir is on her second, and Fedyaev would become the first cosmonaut to fly twice on Dragon. The quartet quarantined Jan 28 at Johnson Space Center and will move to Kennedy Space Center Feb 6; launch windows are Feb 11 with backups Feb 12–13. The εpsilon mission highlights international cooperation and science in orbit.
Two Decades of Exploration in Antarctica
ESA has been conducting a 20-year study at Concordia station in Antarctica, where a medical doctor lives for 13 months to research the psychological and physiological effects of extreme isolation and environment, providing insights relevant to space missions beyond Earth.
Stunning New Mars Images Reveal Surprising Details and True Colors
ESA's Mars Express has captured an image of a unique crater on Mars that resembles a butterfly, formed by a low-angle impact that created irregular wings and a central oval body, with evidence suggesting interaction with water or ice during formation. The region also features volcanic mesas and signs of past volcanic activity, providing insights into Mars's geological history.
Celebrating Three Decades of SOHO's Solar Observations
The ESA/NASA Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) has celebrated 30 years of continuous solar observation, overcoming challenges and revolutionizing solar science, space weather monitoring, and comet discovery, while inspiring future missions and international collaboration.
Scientists Detect First Explosive Burst from Nearby Star
Astronomers have confirmed the first observation of a coronal mass ejection (CME) from a star other than the Sun, using ESA's XMM-Newton and LOFAR telescopes. The CME, originating from a red dwarf star 130 light-years away, was extremely fast and dense, capable of stripping away planetary atmospheres, which has significant implications for the habitability of planets orbiting active stars.
Legacy of a Martian Ice Age
New images from ESA's Mars Express reveal signs of an ancient ice age on Mars, including glacial flow patterns and features like Coloe Fossae, indicating that the planet experienced significant climate changes and ice coverage during its history, even at mid-latitudes.
Gravity-Defying Condensation
A European experiment on the ISS studies how condensation behaves in microgravity using fin-shaped metal surfaces to improve understanding of heat transfer, with potential applications in space technology and Earth-based cooling systems.
PLATO Spacecraft Ready for Final Tests After Arrival at ESTEC
The European Space Agency's Plato spacecraft has completed its construction, including mounting its sunshield and solar panels, and is now preparing for final tests before a planned December 2026 launch to search for Earth-like exoplanets.
Martian Dust Devils Unveil Faster Winds and Turbulent Surface Conditions
Scientists analyzed 20 years of images from ESA's Mars Express and ExoMars TGO to track 1039 dust devils on Mars, revealing that wind speeds are faster than previously thought and providing new insights into the planet's weather and climate, which will aid future missions and climate models.
Organic compounds found in Enceladus's ocean boost potential for life
Scientists analyzing data from the Cassini spacecraft have discovered complex organic molecules in the fresh ice grains ejected from Saturn's moon Enceladus, indicating active chemical reactions in its subsurface ocean that could support life, prompting plans for a dedicated ESA mission to explore the moon further.