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Esa

All articles tagged with #esa

SMILE Spacecraft Captures First Full-Day Auroral Oval Since 2008

The joint European-Chinese SMILE spacecraft has successfully captured the first complete ultraviolet images of Earth's auroral oval since 2008. These images, taken during a daytime substorm, reveal the full ring of northern lights around the North Pole, a view previously impossible from the ground. The mission, which launched in May 2026, aims to study how solar wind interacts with Earth's magnetosphere to improve space weather forecasting and protect infrastructure.

via AOL.com|

#aurora #esa #science

science-and-technology2 days ago•2 min saved

Crew 12 Undocks from ISS as New Arrivals Assume Command

SpaceX Crew 12 undocked from the International Space Station on October 7, 2026, concluding a 237-day mission. The four astronauts, including Jessica Meir and Sophie Adenot, are scheduled to splash down off California on October 8. They are being replaced by Crew 13, who arrived on October 1, while a third crew remains on the station for an extended stay.

via CBS News|

#astronauts #esa #international-space-station

science-and-technology2 days ago•10 min saved

NASA Frames ESA’s LISA Mission as a 'Good Deal' Amid Partnership Tensions

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman is redefining international space partnerships as 'good deals' requiring tangible contributions, a shift that has strained relations with the European Space Agency (ESA) over lunar programs. However, the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) mission remains a key exception. NASA views its role in LISA as highly cost-effective, providing roughly one-third of the funding for 100% of the science data. While the Trump administration proposed canceling NASA’s participation, Congress restored funding for fiscal year 2026, signaling continued support. ESA is leading the mission, which aims to detect low-frequency gravitational waves using three spacecraft in a triangular formation, with a launch scheduled for around 2035.

via Ars Technica|

#esa #gravitational-waves #international-cooperation

space2 days ago•121 min saved

Crew-12 concludes record-setting ISS mission with Pacific splashdown

SpaceX Crew-12 astronauts returned to Earth on Oct. 8 after a nearly eight-month stay at the International Space Station. The crew, comprising Jessica Meir, Jack Hathaway, Sophie Adenot, and Andrey Fedyaev, undocked on Oct. 7 and splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off California at 11:34 a.m. EDT. The mission included historic spacewalks and set a new European record for a single spaceflight duration.

via Space|

#crew-12 #esa #iss

entertainment3 days ago•1 min saved

ESA and Pokémon Launch Europe-Wide Exhibition and Pokémon GO Event for World Space Week

The European Space Agency (ESA) and The Pokémon Company International have launched a major collaboration to promote space exploration during World Space Week (October 4–10, 2026). The partnership features a temporary exhibition across ESA sites and major European museums, exclusive merchandise, and a Pokémon GO event. A key highlight is a Pikachu plush that spent 67 days in orbit on the International Space Station with ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot, completing approximately 1,040 orbits.

via PokeBeach|

#entertainment #esa #iss

science3 days ago•1 min saved

SMILE Satellite Captures First Full-Day Auroral Oval in Ultraviolet

The joint ESA and Chinese Academy of Sciences SMILE spacecraft has released its first ultraviolet images of a complete auroral oval, revealing daytime auroras above Earth's magnetic poles. Captured in late July, the footage shows the turbulent nature of solar wind interactions with the magnetosphere, aiding future space weather protection efforts.

via NASA Science (.gov)|

#aurora #esa #geomagnetic-storms

science-and-technology4 days ago•4 min saved

Juice Uses Earth Gravity to Boost Speed by 3.5 km/s for Jupiter Mission

ESA's Juice spacecraft executed a successful gravity assist near Earth on September 28, 2026, increasing its speed by 3.5 km/s and altering its trajectory by 20 degrees. This maneuver, which required minimal fuel, is a critical step in its journey to study Jupiter's icy moons, with a final Earth pass scheduled for 2029 and Jupiter arrival in 2031.

via The Times of India|

#esa #gravity-assist #juice

space-exploration4 days ago•4 min saved

Juice Slingshots Past Earth, Gaining Speed for Jupiter Mission

ESA's Juice spacecraft used Earth's gravity to boost its speed by 3.5 km/s and alter its course by 20 degrees on September 28, 2026. This maneuver, which required minimal fuel, is a critical step in its journey to study Jupiter's icy moons. The flyby also allowed scientists to test instruments and capture images of Earth.

via The Times of India|

#esa #gravity-assist #juice

space5 days ago•94 min saved

SMILE Satellite Begins Science Ops, Capturing Daytime Auroras in First UV Images

The joint European-Chinese SMILE satellite officially began science operations on September 23, 2026, after a successful commissioning phase. Its first ultraviolet images, captured on July 24, reveal auroras visible in broad daylight over the North Pole. The mission aims to study solar wind interactions with Earth's magnetic field, with its X-ray imager currently undergoing calibration to reduce stray light before targeting the magnetopause in mid-October.

via livescience.com|

#auroras #esa #smile

space7 days ago•119 min saved

SMILE Satellite Captures First Full View of Earth’s Daytime Auroras

The Solar Wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer (SMILE) has released its first ultraviolet images, revealing the full ring of northern lights encircling Earth’s North Pole. Captured on July 24, 2026, the footage shows auroral activity on both the day and night sides of the planet, a capability not seen since 2008. This marks the start of science operations for the joint European-Chinese mission, which aims to improve understanding of solar storms and space weather.

via Space|

#auroras #esa #smile

space11 days ago•118 min saved

ESA’s Juice completes third Earth flyby, gaining speed for 2031 Jupiter arrival

The European Space Agency’s Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) successfully completed its third gravity-assist flyby of Earth on September 28, 2026. The maneuver increased the spacecraft’s velocity by 3.5 kilometers per second and deflected its trajectory by 20 degrees, using minimal fuel. This boost is critical for JUICE’s journey to Jupiter, where it will study the icy moons Ganymede, Callisto, and Europa for signs of life. The spacecraft will make a final Earth pass in 2029 before arriving at Jupiter in 2031.

via Space|

#esa #gravity-assist #juice

science12 days ago•14 min saved

ESA’s Juice Steals Speed from Earth to Reach Jupiter’s Moons

The European Space Agency’s Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (Juice) executed its third Earth flyby on September 28, 2026, gaining speed without fuel. This maneuver adjusts its trajectory for a final Earth pass in 2029 and arrival at Jupiter in 2031. The probe will study Ganymede, Callisto, and Europa for signs of life.

via The Washington Post|

#esa #gravity-assist #juice

space-and-technology16 days ago•8 min saved

ESA Report Warns of Exponential Orbital Collisions by Mid-Century

The European Space Agency’s 2026 Space Environment Report projects that current satellite launch trends will lead to an unstable orbital environment with exponentially increasing collision rates by mid-century, even if operators follow best practices for disposal. Active satellites have surged from 1,000 in 2013 to 17,000 today, driven largely by SpaceX’s Starlink constellation, which now holds approximately 11,000 satellites. While SpaceX performs nearly 35,000 collision-avoidance maneuvers monthly, experts warn that some orbital bands have reached a 'collisional-runaway threshold,' where debris generation outpaces natural removal. The report excludes potential orbital data centers, which could further exacerbate the crisis if deployed.

via Ars Technica|

#esa #kessler-syndrome #orbital-sustainability

culture16 days ago•12 min saved

Pikachu Completes 67-Day ISS Orbit in ESA-Pokémon Collaboration

A Pikachu plush traveled to the International Space Station with ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot, orbiting Earth 1,040 times over 67 days. This marks the core of a new collaboration between the European Space Agency and The Pokémon Company International to promote space exploration during World Space Week 2026.

via kotaku.com|

#culture #esa #pokemon

technology18 days ago•33 min saved

Astronaut Pikachu Takes Off: ESA Partners with Pokémon GO for Europe Tour

Pokémon GO is partnering with the European Space Agency (ESA) for an October 4, 2026–April 30, 2027 event featuring Astronaut Pikachu. One-star raids will run at participating museums, with Timed Research and Field Research available Oct 4–10 and boosted wild encounters around venues. Shiny Astronaut Pikachu will be available, and ESA sites (HQ Paris; ESRIN; ESOC; ESAC; ESTEC; ESEC; ECSAT) will host activities and exclusive ESA × Pokémon merchandise, with exhibition dates and World Space Week tie-ins across Europe.

via Pokémon GO Hub|

#astronaut-pikachu #esa #pokemon-go