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ESA Top Multimedia

ESA Top Multimedia

Information session on the outcome of ESA's 323rd Council

ESA Member States met in Paris, France, for the 323rd session of the ESA Council on 26 and 27 March 2024.

Watch the replay of the information session in which ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher and ESA Council Chair Renato Krpoun share the outcome of the meeting. They gave an update to media about ESA's vision for the European space sector by 2040 and the status of actions provided in the roadmap for the implementation of the Resolution on present and future European Space Transportation.  

They also addressed the progress made in addressing critical challenges faced by ESA in preparation for the next Ministerial Council in 2025. This includes the establishment of the Independent Project Management Authority (IPMA), updating procurement and geo-return rules, service procurement and agreements with Member States. 

SOHO reaches 5000 comets

A citizen scientist digging through data from the ESA/NASA Solar and Heliospheric Observatory has found the mission’s 5000th comet.

The tiny comet – indicated between the vertical lines in the inset – belongs to the ‘Marsden group’, named after the British astronomer Brian Marsden, who first recognised the group based on SOHO observations. Marsden group comets are thought to be pieces shed by the much bigger Comet 96P/Machholz, which SOHO observes as it passes close to the Sun every 5.3 years.

This 5000th comet was discovered by Hanjie Tan, an astronomy PhD student in Prague, Czechia. Hanjie has been comet hunting since he was just 13 years old, discovering over 200 comets since 2009.

Hanjie explains how he felt upon spotting this comet in the data: “The Marsden group comets represent only about 1.5% of all SOHO comet discoveries, so finding this one as the 5000th SOHO comet felt incredibly fortunate. It's really exciting to be the first to see comets get bright near the Sun after they've been travelling through space for thousands of years.”

Launched in 1995, SOHO studies the Sun from its interior to its outer atmosphere, providing unique views and investigating the cause of the solar wind. During the last three decades, SOHO has become the most prolific discoverer of comets in astronomical history.

The telescope’s prowess as a comet-hunter was unplanned, but turned out to be an unexpected success. With its clear view of the Sun’s surroundings, SOHO can easily spot a special kind of comet called a sungrazer – so-called because of their close approach to the Sun.

Like most who have discovered comets in SOHO’s data, Hanjie Tan is a volunteer citizen scientist, searching for comets in his free time with the Sungrazer Project. This NASA-funded citizen science project, managed by Karl Battams from the US Naval Research Lab, grew out of the huge number of comet discoveries by citizen scientists early into SOHO’s mission.

“Prior to the launch of the SOHO mission and the Sungrazer Project, there were only a couple dozen sungrazing comets on record – that’s all we knew existed,” said Karl Battams, who is the principal investigator for the Sungrazer Project. “The fact that we’ve finally reached this milestone – 5000 comets – is just unbelievable to me.”

SOHO is a cooperative effort between ESA and NASA. Mission control is based at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. SOHO’s Large Angle and Spectrometric Coronagraph Experiment, or LASCO, which is the instrument that provides most of the comet imagery, was built by an international consortium, led by the US Naval Research Lab.

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SOHO’s 4000th comet

SOHO’s 3000th comet

 

[Image description: A bright orange circle covers almost the whole image, with a smaller disc in the middle. Out of the smaller disc protrude wisps of the Sun's atmosphere. To the upper right of the inner circle, an inset zooms in on a small square, with vertical lines surrounding a faint smudge.]

Juventas integration at GomSpace

Juventas integration at GomSpace

ESA School Days 2024 at ESRIN

Dall’11 al 15 marzo, oltre 1.400 giovani studenti e studentesse si sono ritrovati al Centro ESA a Frascati, dedicato all’Osservazione della Terra, per l’edizione 2024 degli ESA School Days. Il Centro ESRIN ha accolto le scuole primarie (quarta e quinta classe) nei giorni 11, 12 e 13 marzo, mentre gli ultimi due giorni della settimana sono stati dedicati alle scuole medie. Durante cinque giorni di presentazioni e laboratori pratici, le scuole provenienti da tutta Italia hanno avuto l’opportunità di esplorare la vasta gamma di attività spaziali che si svolgono nel sito dell’ESA. 

L’iniziativa, che ha visto la partecipazione di ESERO Italia e dell’Agenzia Spaziale Italiana (ASI), si propone l’obiettivo di coinvolgere e ispirare le prossime generazioni di studenti e studentesse STEM, diffondendo conoscenza sullo Spazio e sull’Agenzia Spaziale Europea.

 

From 11 to 15 March, over 1400 young students gathered at ESA Centre for Earth Observation in Frascati for the 2024 edition of ESA School Days. ESRIN welcomed primary school students (4th and 5th grades) on 11, 12 and 13 March, while the last two days were dedicated to secondary schools. During these five days of presentations and laboratories, schools from across Italy had the opportunity to explore the wide range of space activities carried out at ESA’s establishment. 

The initiative, that saw the participation of ESERO Italia and the Italian Space Agency (ASI), aims to engage and inspire the next generation of STEM students, while sharing knowledge about space and the European Space Agency.

Oxia Planum geological map

A team of European scientists have published the most detailed geologic map of Oxia Planum – the landing site for ESA’s Rosalind Franklin rover on Mars. This thorough look at the geography and geological history of the area will help the rover scout the once water-rich terrain, in the search for signs of past and present life.

The map gives scientists a head start before Rosalind Franklin lands there in 2030. Four years in the making, this map identifies 15 geological units with characteristic features that can help decide how the rover explores the area, interprets its surroundings, and tries to collect evidence of primitive life.

Oxia Planum is located near the martian equator and contains sedimentary deposits that are nearly four billion years old.

The map includes the main types of bedrock, and structures with distinct shapes like ridges and craters. It even features the material that rests on top, for example blown by the wind, or thrown long distances when meteorites impacted the surface. The shape model of the surface on which the map is shown here was generated from orbital images by a painstaking process. In some places, long and straight ‘stripes’ can be seen as a result of this processing.

Data came from the Colour and Stereo Surface Imaging System (CaSSIS) onboard the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter and several instruments on NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO), including the HiRISE camera, which returns images from Mars orbit at 25 cm per pixel.

For more information, visit the ExoMars website: www.esa.int/exomars.

Marvel at stunning echo of 800-year-old explosion

In the year 1181 a rare supernova explosion appeared in the night sky, staying visible for 185 consecutive days. Historical records show that the supernova looked like a temporary ‘star’ in the constellation Cassiopeia shining as bright as Saturn.

Ever since, scientists have tried to find the supernova’s remnant. At first it was thought that this could be the nebula around the pulsar (dead star) 3C 58. However closer investigations revealed that the pulsar is older than supernova 1181.

In the last decade, another contender was discovered; Pa 30 is a nearly circular nebula with a central star in the constellation Cassiopeia. It is pictured here combining images from several telescopes. This composite image uses data across the electromagnetic spectrum and shows a new spectacular view of the supernova remnant. Allowing us to marvel at the same object that appeared in our ancestors’ night sky more than 800 years ago.

X-ray observations by ESA’s XMM-Newton (blue) show the full extent of the nebula and NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory (cyan) pinpoints its central source. The nebula is barely visible in optical light but shines bright in infrared light, collected by NASA’s Wide-field Infrared Space Explorer (red and pink). Interestingly, the radial structure in the image consists of heated sulphur that glows in visible light, observed with the ground-based Hiltner 2.4 m telescope at the MDM Observatory (green) in Arizona, USA, as do the stars in the background by Pan-STARRS (white) in Hawaii, USA.

Studies of the composition of the different parts of the remnant have led scientists to believe that it was formed in a thermonuclear explosion, and more precisely a special kind of supernova called a sub-luminous Type Iax event. During this event two white dwarf stars merged, and typically no remnant is expected for this kind of explosion. But incomplete explosions can leave a kind of ‘zombie’ star, such as the massive white dwarf star in this system. This very hot star, one of the hottest stars in the Milky Way (about 200 000 degrees Celsius), has a fast stellar wind with speeds up to 16 000 km/h. The combination of the star and the nebula makes it a unique opportunity for studying such rare explosions.

[Image description: A composite image of the remnant of supernova 1181. A spherical bright nebula sits in the middle surrounded by a field of white dotted stars. Within the nebula several rays point out like fireworks from a central star.]

A duo of starbursts in Zwicky 18

A duo of starbursts in Zwicky 18

Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks

Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks

Hubble sees new star proclaiming its presence with cosmic light show

Hubble sees new star proclaiming its presence with cosmic light show

A journey through ice and fire

ESA astronaut candidate Rosemary Coogan lighting a fire during winter survival training in the snowy mountains of the Spanish Pyrenees as part of her basic astronaut training.

Earth from Space: Southeast Kenya

The striking contrast of the diverse landscape in southeast Kenya is featured in this false-colour image captured by Copernicus Sentinel-2.

The Spider (and not its web)

The Spider (and not its web)

Toward the next generation of air quality monitoring

Air pollution is the largest environmental health risk in Europe and significantly impacts the health of the European population, particularly in urban areas.

Following on from the Sentinel-5P satellite – the first Copernicus mission dedicated to monitoring our atmosphere – the Sentinel-4 and Sentinel-5 missions will take current air quality measuring capabilities to the next level.

Together, the Sentinel-4 and -5 missions will provide information on atmospheric variables in support of European policies. This will include the monitoring of air quality, stratospheric ozone and solar radiation, and climate monitoring.

This video features interviews with Giorgio Bagnasco, Sentinel-4 Mission Project Manager, Ben Veilhelmann, Sentinel-4&5 Mission Scientist and Didier Martin, Sentinel-5 Mission Project Manager.

Access all "Unpacking Sentinels" videos.

So long Vinci

So long Vinci

Simulation of a Milky Way-like galaxy forming

This simulation shows how a galaxy like the Milky Way forms and evolves through time. It runs from the birth of the Universe (13.7 billion years ago) to 3 billion years ago. 

The forming galaxy begins as a clump of dark matter threads that knit together; gas and stars then begin to form along these bright veins as time ticks on. A major event in the Milky Way’s history is also labelled at around one minute in, when another object collided with the infant Milky Way. 

Gas is shown in blue, stars in white, dark matter in red, and iron in green, as indicated by the labels displayed at bottom left. In the bottom right, the amount of time ago is shown via both the ‘z’ label (referring to redshift), and the ‘GYR’ label (with 1 Gyr, or gigayear, equalling 1 billion years). 

The simulation was produced by Florent Renaud as part of his Vintergatan Project (Vintergatan being the Swedish word for ‘Milky Way’, meaning ‘The Winter Street’). 

Ariane 6 booster storage

Ariane 6 booster storage

Deforestation near Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia

This animation shows deforestation near Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia. The images were acquired over the course of four years: 2 July 1986, 16 July 1991, 13 August 2007 and 10 August 2022.

Because of their unique perspective from space, Earth observation satellites are instrumental in providing comprehensive information on the full extent and rate of deforestation, which is particularly useful for monitoring remote areas.

Andreas Mogensen at Ellington

ESA astronaut Andreas Mogensen stepping out of the plane at Ellington Field, Texas, US after splashing down with Crew-7 earlier that day.  

ESA astronaut Andreas Mogensen flew with his Crew-7 crewmates Jasmin Moghbeli (NASA), Satoshi Furukawa (JAXA), and Konstantin Borisov (Roscosmos) to Ellington Field near Houston, Texas, US, after spending six months on the International Space Station and returning to Earth in the Dragon Endurance. 

Crew-7 splashed down off the coast of Florida, US, close to Pensacola, at 09:47 GMT/10:47 on 12 March 2024, following a nearly 19-hour journey after undocking from the Space Station.  

Andreas spent 199 days in space during his Huginn mission, 197 of them on the Space Station. During this time, he conducted more than 30 European experiments and technology demonstrations, as well as many international ones. From filtering waste water and figuring out astronauts’ sleep in space, to capturing the image of a special lightning called a red sprite, Andreas shared the science he conducted with the world through his social media, l like the mythical bird that gave its name to his mission 

Huginn is named after one of the two ravens of the Norse god Odin, the other being Muninn. According to Norse mythology, the two ravens are said to fly into the world every day, gathering information and relaying it to Odin at the end of the day, telling him what they have seen across the globe.  

Laser light sabre

Laser light sabre

Earth from Space: Vienna, Austria

The historic centre of Vienna, Austria’s capital city, is featured in this image captured on 23 June 2023.

Taking Earth’s temperature from space

Climate change exacerbates droughts by making them more frequent, longer, and more severe. This can have a wide range of impacts on the environment, agriculture, ecosystems and communities including water scarcity, crop failure and food shortages.

The upcoming Copernicus Land Surface Temperature Monitoring, LSTM, mission will improve sustainable agricultural productivity in a world of increasing water scarcity and variability.

The mission will carry a high spatial-temporal resolution thermal infrared sensor to provide observations of land-surface temperature.

These data are key to understand and respond to climate variability, manage water resources for agricultural production, predict droughts and also to address land degradation.

LSTM is one of six Copernicus Sentinel Expansion missions that ESA is developing on behalf of the EU. The missions will expand the current capabilities of the Copernicus Space Component – the world’s biggest supplier of Earth observation data.

This video features interviews with Ana Bolea Alamanac, LSTM Mission Project Manager, Ilias Manolis, LSTM Mission Payload Manager and Itziar Barat, LSTM Mission System and Operations Manager.

Access all "Unpacking Sentinels" videos.

Hubble tracks Jupiter's stormy weather

Hubble tracks Jupiter's stormy weather

Hera’s CubeSat deployment process

ESA’s Hera asteroid mission for planetary defence will journey to the distant Didymos asteroid system with two shoebox-sized ‘CubeSats’. CubeSats are small, low-cost satellites built up from 10 cm boxes, traditionally employed for educational purposes but increasingly finding operational uses in Earth orbit. The Milani mineral prospector and Juventas radar surveyor will be the first ESA CubeSats to operate in deep space. They will spend Hera’s two-year cruise phase to Didymos inside a pair of ‘Deep Space Deployers’ which will keep them alive and healthy. The pair will be deployed one at a time, starting with a partial deployment to check each CubeSat’s functionality. Finally, they will be deployed at just a few centimetres per second – any faster and they would risk being lost in space within the prevailing low gravity.

Arctic Weather Satellite testing for life in orbit

ESA’s Arctic Weather Satellite in environmental testing at IAGB in Ottobrunn, Germany. The tests, carried out at IABG in Germany, included positioning the satellite on a shaker to simulate the vibrations it will have to endure during liftoff, enclosing it in a thermal vacuum chamber where it was exposed to the extreme swings in temperature that it will experience as it orbits Earth, and deploying its solar array.

The Arctic Weather Satellite is equipped with a 19-channel cross-track scanning microwave radiometer, which benefits from the heritage technology of the Microwave Sounder developed for the MetOp Second Generation satellites. The instrument will provide high-resolution humidity and temperature soundings of the atmosphere in all weather conditions.

The satellite is actually the forerunner of a potential constellation of satellites, called EPS-Sterna, that ESA would build for Eumetsat if this first prototype Arctic Weather Satellite works well.

Cheers! Webb finds ethanol and other icy ingredients for worlds

Cheers! Webb finds ethanol and other icy ingredients for worlds

Fixing the Arctic Weather Satellite to the shaker

Fixing the Arctic Weather Satellite to the shaker

The return of Andreas Mogensen | Huginn Mission

After more than 6 months on the International Space Station, ESA astronaut Andreas Mogensen returned to Earth, marking the end of his Huginn mission. It was his second mission to the Space Station and his first long-duration, where he was the pilot of Crew-7, which consisted of Jasmin Moghbeli (NASA), Satoshi Furukawa (JAXA), and Konstantin Borisov (Roscosmos).

Thumbs up from Andreas Mogensen

ESA astronaut Andreas Mogensen after exiting the Dragon Endurance, that brought him and Crew-7 back from the International Space Station. Andreas was on his Huginn mission, his second space flight, and his first long-duration mission to the International Space Station. 

Andreas Mogensen and Crew-7 in Dragon after return to Earth

ESA astronaut Andreas Mogensen together with Crew-7 after their return to Earth. The Dragon splashed down at 09:47 GMT/10:47 CET on 12 March after undocking from the International Space Station on 11 March at 15:20 GMT/16:20 CET. 

From left to right: Konstantin Borisov, Andreas Mogensen, Jasmin Moghbeli, and Satoshi Furukawa. 

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