ESA Top Multimedia

The Sun doesn't feel like a threat – until it does. 

Solar storms can put on beautiful light shows in the night sky, known as auroras. But they can also cause serious problems for the technology we rely on every day. Strong solar activity can interfere with communications, power grids and navigation systems on Earth and satellites in orbit.

Although we cannot stop such space weather from happening, we can limit its impact. The most effective protection comes from carefully monitoring the Sun and the effects of solar activity on the space environment around Earth. This information can be shared with system operators through services similar to weather reports and forecasts, so the operators can take protective action when needed.

Observing space weather and reducing its risks are activities of ESA’s Space Safety programme. ESA is building a wide range of space weather services, brought together in the ESA Space Weather Service Network, supported by data from ESA's own space weather sensors deployed in space. These services help industry and spacecraft operators respond quickly and effectively when space weather events occur. 

Learn more about Space Weather at ESA and the ESA Space Weather Service network.

Watch all Space safety hazards videos.

Each year, the world’s leading climate scientists evaluate the most critical evidence on how our planet is changing. Their assessments draw heavily on data from Earth-observing satellites – and the latest 10 New Insights in Climate Science report 10 New Insights in Climate Science report delivers a stark warning: the planet’s energy balance is drifting further out of alignment, oceans are warming at unprecedented rates, and the land’s capacity to absorb carbon is declining, along with other troubling trends.
Insight number two highlights that marine heatwaves are becoming more intense and prolonged. These changes are causing severe ecosystem damage, undermining coastal livelihoods, increasing extreme weather risks and weakening the ocean’s capacity to absorb carbon.

The image depicts sea-surface temperature anomalies in the Mediterranean Sea for August 2023 relative to 1985–2005, and highlights two cases of biodiversity loss.

Read full story: Revealed: 10 new insights in climate science

The world runs on invisible satellite navigation signals: they fuel our society, generate economic growth and are integral to our security. But they can fade or vanish.

A pivotal step for more robust navigation is expanding to a system including a fleet of satellites in low Earth orbit, operating in a range of signals and frequencies.

ESA’s Celeste demonstrator mission will test the potential of such a system in providing significant augmentation and diversity to Galileo and other existing systems, increasing resilience and enabling new services to places where today’s satnav systems cannot reach.

Learn more about Celeste.

Watch the replay of the Crew-12 docking operations at the International Space Station (ISS).

On 14 February, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Space Launch Complex 40 at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center at 10:15 UTC (11:15 CET). Following this, the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft docked at the orbiting lab at 20:15 UTC (21:15 CET).

ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot is flying as mission specialist for the εpsilon mission. The other Crew-12 members are NASA astronauts Jessica Meir (commander) and Jack Hathaway (pilot), and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrei Fedyaev (mission specialist).

Watch the highlights of the launch of ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot to the International Space Station (ISS) on Crew-12. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Space Launch Complex 40 at NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre in Florida, USA, on Friday 13 February 2026 at 10:15 GMT/11:15 CET (5:15 local time).

Sophie flies as mission specialist. The other Crew-12 members are NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, respectively commander and pilot of the mission, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrei Fedyaev, mission specialist.

The French ESA astronaut is the first of her class, the Hoppers, to fly. Sophie has chosen the name εpsilon for her mission, which may last up to nine months. On board the Station, she will conduct a wide range of tasks, including European-led scientific experiments and medical research, support Earth observation activities, and contribute to operations and maintenance on the Station.

Watch the full launch replay. 

Watch the broadcast for the launch of Ariane 6 Flight VA267, the first mission featuring the four-booster configuration.

On this flight, Ariane 6 delivered 32 satellites for Amazon’s LEO constellation into low Earth orbit.

It its most powerful version, Ariane 6 uses four boosters to lift off and rocket towards space.

Designed for versatility, Ariane 6 can adapt to each mission: flying with two boosters for lighter payloads, or four boosters when more power is needed. 

In its four-booster configuration, Ariane 6 can carry larger and heavier spacecraft into orbit, enabling some of Europe’s most ambitious missions — such as Argonaut.

Which crops can sustain humans in space during long duration missions? In this video, we explore three types of plants that may be suitable. Find the corresponding classroom resource here.

This educational activity was designed with primary STEM teachers in mind, but can be done by anyone, anywhere!

ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot (FR) is scheduled to fly to the International Space Station in 2026. Her first mission to the International Space Station, Îµpsilon, is named after the fifth Greek letter and the fifth brightest star of the Leo constellation, following the French tradition to name human spaceflight missions after celestial bodies. It also pays tribute to the five career astronauts of ESA’s 2022 class. In mathematics, 'ε' represents something small. In the extensive collaborative effort of space exploration, involving thousands of participants, all roles, including the astronaut’s role, stay small, yet all are meaningful.

Just as the name reflects the power of small, yet impactful contributions and how multiple parts unite to create a whole, so does the idea behind the patch design. The hummingbird motif is central; though one of Earth’s smallest birds, it plays a crucial role in the jungle’s ecosystem, pollinating numerous plants. Around the edge is a ring of small dots, symbolising the many small contributions that together make great achievements possible. All these little actions that can be coordinated to form a circle and close the loop. At the top, three of these dots are coloured – blue, white and red – representing Sophie’s home country, France, and ESA’s exploration destinations: Earth, the Moon and Mars.

Three lines emerge from the 'i' of the εpsilon, shaping the tail of a shooting star, a poetic reminder that dreams keep us alive. Also featured are five stars, a tribute to the five career astronauts of ESA’s 2022 class. At the base of the patch is round blue shape, representing Earth’s surface and its natural beauty: mountains, forests and landscapes that Sophie enjoys exploring. It serves as a reminder of our motivation for spaceflight: to explore, learn and return with this knowledge to benefit life on Earth.

From an emotional perspective, the same message is conveyed. In life’s intricate tapestry, small threads contribute to create the most beautiful patterns. A kind word, a gentle smile, a moment of patience – these seemingly insignificant actions can transform lives and shape destinies. This patch invites each of us to embrace the potential of our smallest actions as they ripple outward, touching hearts and inspiring souls.