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Going to the Moon
Artemis II: Journey to the Moon begins
Artemis II launched on 2 April at 00:35 CEST, (18:35 local time on 1 April), sending astronauts around the Moon for the first time in over 50 years. At the heart of the mission is ESA's European Service Module, which powers, propels and sustains the Orion spacecraft and its crew on their journey around the Moon and safely back to Earth.
Artemis II launch
Artemis II launch
Artemis II launch
Artemis II launch
Artemis II launch
EchoFinder setup and wrap-up
Since their arrival aboard the International Space Station on 14 February 2026, ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot and NASA astronaut Jack Hathaway have already carried out two sessions of EchoFinder, an experiment developed by the French space agency CNES for the εpsilon mission. Each session takes about 3 to 4 hours, including the 30 minutes of installation/setup and 30 minutes of wrap-up shown in this timelapse.
EchoFinder tackles a simple yet crucial challenge for the future of human space exploration: how can astronauts perform a reliable ultrasound scan without medical training and without real-time support from a doctor?
EchoFinder is a software assistant that combines augmented reality and artificial intelligence. The augmented reality interface guides the astronaut by showing exactly where to position the ultrasound probe on the body. Once the probe is correctly placed, an artificial intelligence system takes over to identify the organs and record the images. In the future, these images would be sent to medical teams on Earth for diagnosis.
This technology was developed with upcoming space missions in mind, where communication delays would make remote assistance from a specialist impossible. It also has promising applications on Earth, for example on ships at sea, in submarines, or in remote areas without immediate access to medical expertise.
Sahara whips up a dust storm over Canary islands
Artemis II: let's go
The Artemis II rocket at its launchpad at NASA's Kennedy Space CenterMonitoring Climate Change from Space Webinar Series #2 | Sea Level Rise and Climate Change
In the second webinar of the Monitoring Climate Change from Space series, Anny Cazenave (LEGOS), Science Leader of the Sea Level Climate Change Initiative (CCI) project, explores the dynamics of global, regional, and local sea level rise. She explains the data processing and retrieval algorithms behind satellite-derived Essential Climate Variables (ECVs) and examines the primary drivers of sea level change, including ocean warming and land ice melt, in the context of human-induced climate change. The webinar also highlights additional coastal factors, such as ground subsidence, that can amplify sea level rise, and discusses future scenarios and their potential impacts on coastal communities.
Join our latest monthly webinar series showcasing the latest climate science from the ESA-CCI ECV projects. Find out more: https://climate.esa.int/en/climate-change-initiative-training/webinars/
Jump for the Moon | Mission X
Join ESA reserve astronaut John McFall in this jumping activity to improve bone and muscle strength and endurance. Mission X: Train like an astronaut is a hands-on project that engages young learners with STEM, health and nutrition activities in the inspiring context of space. #missionx #astronauttraining #jump #stemlearning #exercise Download the activity pdf here: https://trainlikeanastronaut.org/jump-for-the-moon/
This activity can be done anytime, anywhere! Try it at home, in a classroom, or after-school with friends.
Artemis II rollout
Space Launch System, vollständig montiert für Artemis II, im Vehicle Assembly Building, einen Tag vor dem Transport zum Startkomplex 39B im Kennedy Space Center in Florida, USA, am 16. Januar 2026. Bildquelle: ESA-S. CorvajaOrion on a roll
In October 2025, the Artemis II Orion – complete with crew module, ESA’s European Service Module, solar arrays and launch abort system – was rolled 10 kilometres to the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, for stacking onto the Space Launch System rocket.European engineers came to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center to install the four wings on Orion
Orion’s solar arrays were built at Airbus in the Netherlands; the same European engineers came to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center to install the four wings on Orion.Solar arrays installed on NASA’s Artemis II Orion spacecraft
Solaranlagen, die am Orion-Raumschiff der NASA für die Artemis II Mission im Operations and Checkout Building des Kennedy Space Centers der NASA installiert wurden, Anfang März 2025. Bildquelle: Lockheed MartinESM 2 crew model stacked over service model
Das kegelförmige Besatzungsmodul wird im Kennedy Space Center auf das darunter liegende Servicemodul gesetzt. Bildquelle: NASAItaly’s IRIDE Eaglet II satellites with multispectral sensors
This animation shows the satellites in orbit, which are part of IRIDE’s Eaglet II constellation.
Each one carries a multispectral sensor, which captures images of Earth’s surface, as well as an Automatic Identification System (AIS) to support vessel traffic services. The data will be used to provide core services for Italian public authorities, from monitoring Italy’s coastal areas, to land use and cover, and providing maps during emergency situations.
Simonetta Cheli welcomes the launch of new IRIDE satellites
Simonetta Cheli, ESA’s Director of Earth Observation Programmes, welcomes the second successful launch for IRIDE’s Eaglet II constellation. Following launch on 30 March 2026 from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, eight new satellites join the Eaglet II constellation in orbit, bringing the total number of satellites to 16.
Part of Italy’s IRIDE programme, Eaglet II data will be used to provide core services for Italian public authorities, from monitoring Italy’s coastal areas, to land use and cover, and providing maps during emergency situations.
Last glimpse of Smile
What is Smile about to discover?
What really happens when the Sun’s charged particles slam into Earth’s magnetic shield?
Smile is about to reveal it for the first time.
This groundbreaking mission will observe Earth’s magnetosphere in X-rays while capturing the northern lights in ultraviolet, offering an entirely new way to see how our planet defends itself from solar storms.
A joint mission between the European Space Agency and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Smile will launch aboard a Vega-C rocket on 9 April.
Learn more about Smile.
Liftoff for Celeste on Rocket Lab's Electron rocket
Liftoff for Celeste on Rocket Lab's Electron rocketLaunch of ESA’s Celeste mission 1
At 10:14 CET on 28 March, the first two satellites of ESA’s Celeste LEO-PNT in-orbit demonstration mission lifted off aboard a Rocket Lab Electron rocket from Māhia, New Zealand.
Celeste is Europe’s first initiative to bring satellite navigation into low Earth orbit (LEO). By testing next-generation technologies and new frequency bands, it will help shape the future of positioning, navigation and timing services.
Flying closer to Earth, Celeste will demonstrate how a complementary LEO layer can strengthen Europe’s Galileo system in medium Earth orbit — improving resilience, enhancing performance and enabling new services.
The ART of robotics training
Meganne Christian during VR robotics trainingHow Europe will power the journey to the Moon and back
Artemis II will send astronauts around the Moon and safely home. At the core of the mission is the European Service Module: providing propulsion, power and life support for their journey into deep space.
Where spiral arms and star formation meet
Hubble image of barred spiral galaxy IC 486We’re going to the Moon | Artemis II ESAxASH
For the first time in over 50 years, humans are going back to the Moon. This time, Europe is part of that journey.
Artemis II is the first crewed mission of NASA's Artemis programme and will bring four astronauts on a 10-day journey around the Moon and safely back to Earth.
What carries them on this voyage is the Orion spacecraft, powered by our European Service Module (ESM).
The ESM is built by 20 companies across Europe, led by prime contractor Airbus. The module will provide all the air and water needed by the crew throughout their journey, and power and propel their spacecraft through deep space and back home.
Plato’s launch on Ariane 6
The European Space Agency’s mission Plato is set to launch at the beginning of 2027 on a quest to find Earth-like planets orbiting stars similar to our Sun. The spacecraft will board an Ariane 6 rocket with two boosters for launch from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana.
This animation offers a preview of Plato’s launch and its first moments in space as a passenger on Ariane 6. We follow Plato’s journey above Earth, up to the moment when the spacecraft separates from the launcher’s final stage.
Ariane 6 will set Plato on a trajectory to the Sun-Earth Lagrange point L2. This is an equilibrium point of the Sun-Earth system that revolves around the Sun together with Earth. It is located 1.5 million kilometres from Earth, in the direction opposite the Sun.
The spacecraft will approach this point after a one-month journey and then enter a large-amplitude orbit around it.
Watch also Plato’s trip to L2.
About Plato
ESA’s Plato (PLAnetary Transits and Oscillations of stars) will use 26 cameras to study terrestrial exoplanets in orbits up to the habitable zone of Sun-like stars.
Plato's scientific instrumentation, consisting of the cameras and electronic units, is provided through a collaboration between ESA and the Plato Mission Consortium composed of various European research centres, institutes and industries. The spacecraft is being built and assembled by the industrial Plato Core Team led by OHB together with Thales Alenia Space and Beyond Gravity.
Space Rocks at the ESTEC Open Day 2025
The ESTEC Open Day is a truly unique opportunity for the public to get a front row seat to the final frontier at the technical heart of the European Space Agency. From astronauts to astrophysicists, to composers and Alien ovomorphs, there’s simply no other event like it, but how did the Open Day begin? And what’s next for space exploration? We’ve got the answer to that and more in our special programme dedicated to the past, the present, and the future of European innovation as ESA celebrates the 50th anniversary of its founding. The ESTEC Open Day takes place in Noordwijk in the Netherlands. It’s open to all and free to attend. The 2026 event will take place on Sunday, September 27th with a special accessibility day taking place on Saturday, September 26th.
Huge thanks to our hosts Lauran Carter and Alfredo Carpineti, and all of our guests for joining the programme. ESA astronaut Rosemary Coogan, ESA astronaut Thomas Reiter, ESA astronaut André Kuipers, ESA astronaut Ulf Merbold, ESA astronaut Claude Nicollier, The War of The Worlds composer Jeff Wayne, ESA director of human and robotic exploration Daniel Neuenschwander, ESA robotics engineer Sant Brinkman, Stargate actor Dave Hewlett, Event Horizon Telescope Sera Markoff, space fashion designer Laura Theiss JUICE scientist and UK Astronomer Royal Michelle Dougherty Life, Physical Sciences and Life Support Laboratory Manager Alan Dowson ESTEC director Dietmar Pilz Fmr. ESTEC director Franco Ongaro Grégoire Déprez and the crew of the ESTEC Creative Space
Celeste: Countdown to Launch 1
On 25 March, the first two satellites of the Celeste in-orbit demonstration mission will lift off aboard Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket from the company’s Māhia Launch Complex in New Zealand.
Celeste will play a pioneering role in elevating the future of Europe’s satellite navigation capabilities.
As ESA’s initiative for satellite navigation in low Earth orbit (LEO-PNT), the mission will be testing next-generation technologies and add new frequency bands for satellite navigation to inform the deployment of a future European operational navigation system in low Earth orbit.
The mission will begin with two demonstrator satellites, IOD1-2, to secure and test the assigned frequency filings and transmit representative navigation signals until the end of the year.
The two satellites consist of two CubeSats (12U and 16U respectively), both developed by two consortia composed by a wide set of European players, one led by GMV (Spain) and the other led by Thales Alenia Space (France).
Learn more about Celeste: https://www.esa.int/Celeste/
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