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On 10 October, ESA’s European Centre for Space Applications and Telecommunications (ECSAT) in the UK opened its doors for ESA Open Days 2026, welcoming visitors to discover how space is shaping our lives and our future.

From building and shaking satellites to exploring robotics, climate, telecommunications and Earth observation, visitors got hands-on with space and met ESA experts. Planetarium shows, Mars rovers, VR experiences, space suits and interactive activities offered something for all ages.

On 2 October, ESA’s European Space Operations Centre (ESOC) in Germany opened its doors to more than 2000 visitors for ESA Open Days 2026.

From stepping inside the heart of ESA’s mission control and meeting experts, to exploring space through VR, mini rovers and interactive activities, visitors discovered the people, technology and missions behind Europe’s space programme. There were also rocket launches, LEGO, exhibitions and activities to inspire the next generation of space explorers.

ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot has returned to Europe following her 237-day εpsilon mission aboard the International Space Station. A press conference with Sophie and Director of Human and Robotic Exploration Daniel Neuenschwander took place on 13 October 2026 at 11:00 CEST in Cologne, Germany.

After 237 days and over 3,700 orbits around Earth aboard the International Space Station, Sophie Adenot is back on Earth!

Following a handover to Crew-13, Sophie and her Crew-12 crewmates undocked on 7 October and splashed down off the coast of California the next day.

Now back in Europe, Sophie will begin her post-flight data collection and rehabilitation while readjusting to life on Earth after the longest mission in space by a European astronaut so far.

Welcome home, Sophie!

On 3 October, ESA’s European Space Astronomy Centre (ESAC) in Spain opened its doors to over 2500 visitors for ESA Open Days 2026. From exploring the Solar System and discovering ESA’s missions, to meeting experts and getting hands-on with space through interactive activities, there was plenty to see and do.

Visitors could experience a virtual journey through the Universe, discover missions such as BepiColombo and Gaia, explore Earth observation and planetary defence, and step into the world of human and robotic exploration. From training like an astronaut and commanding a Mars rover to exploring ESA’s latest activities with Reserve Astronaut Sara García Alonso, the day offered a glimpse into the people, missions and technology behind Europe’s space programme.

ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot has arrived back in Europe, landing in Cologne, Germany, two days after splashing down off the coast of California with her Crew-12 crewmates, following 237 days, nearly eight months, aboard the International Space Station for her εpsilon mission.

From Ellington Field in Houston, Sophie boarded a French Air and Space Force Airbus A330 MRTT Phénix bound for ESA’s European Astronaut Centre (EAC) in Cologne, Germany. She landed at 04:21 GMT/06:21 CEST on 10 October and was warmly welcomed on the apron by family, friends, colleagues, journalists and representatives from ESA Member States. She gave a short speech before answering questions from journalists.

Sophie will spend the next two to three weeks adjusting to Earth’s gravity and undergoing data collections at :envihab, a German Aerospace Center (DLR) facility located next to EAC. DLR teams work closely with ESA, providing operational, medical and scientific expertise to support astronauts’ return, recovery and readaptation to life on Earth. Sophie will then continue her rehabilitation and follow-up activities with the EAC training team.  

Watch all videos from Sophie Adenot’s return to Europe

ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot has arrived back in Europe, landing in Cologne, Germany, two days after splashing down off the coast of California with her Crew-12 crewmates, following 237 days, nearly eight months, aboard the International Space Station for her εpsilon mission.

From Ellington Field in Houston, Sophie boarded a French Air and Space Force Airbus A330 MRTT Phénix bound for ESA’s European Astronaut Centre (EAC) in Cologne, Germany. She landed at 04:21 GMT/06:21 CEST on 10 October and was warmly welcomed on the apron by family, friends, colleagues, journalists and representatives from ESA Member States. 

Sophie will spend the next two to three weeks adjusting to Earth’s gravity and undergoing data collections at :envihab, a German Aerospace Center (DLR) facility located next to EAC. DLR teams work closely with ESA, providing operational, medical and scientific expertise to support astronauts’ return, recovery and readaptation to life on Earth. Sophie will then continue her rehabilitation and follow-up activities with the EAC training team.  

ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot has arrived back in Europe, landing in Cologne, Germany, two days after splashing down off the coast of California with her Crew-12 crewmates, following 237 days, nearly eight months, aboard the International Space Station for her εpsilon mission.

From Ellington Field in Houston, Sophie boarded a French Air and Space Force Airbus A330 MRTT Phénix bound for ESA’s European Astronaut Centre (EAC) in Cologne, Germany. She landed at 04:21 GMT/06:21 CEST on 10 October and was warmly welcomed on the apron by family, friends, colleagues, journalists and representatives from ESA Member States. 

Sophie will spend the next two to three weeks adjusting to Earth’s gravity and undergoing data collections at :envihab, a German Aerospace Center (DLR) facility located next to EAC. DLR teams work closely with ESA, providing operational, medical and scientific expertise to support astronauts’ return, recovery and readaptation to life on Earth. Sophie will then continue her rehabilitation and follow-up activities with the EAC training team.  

On 25 September, ESA’s Centre for Earth Observation in Frascati opened its doors to more than 2500 visitors for ESA Open Days 2026. With  astronaut Luca Parmitano joining live,  guests had the chance to discover how ESA observes and explores our planet, and where Europe’s space ambitions are heading next. 

Across ESRIN, visitors followed different paths through the site, discovering missions and technologies including FLEX, Biomass, HERA and Vega-C. They explored Earth observation through interactive installations and VR, got up close to meteorites and spacecraft models, stepped into the Orion cockpit, explored a rover lab and planetarium, and even joined Radio Rai activities designed especially for younger visitors. From observing our planet to looking towards future exploration, ESRIN offered a glimpse into the people, missions and ideas taking Europe further into space. 

Just two weeks after it was launched, the Copernicus Sentinel-3C satellite returned its first images and measurements from two of its key instruments – a major milestone that confirms the satellite is working well and on the road to monitoring the health of Earth’s oceans, land, cryosphere and atmosphere.

The animation shows measurements of the height of the Greenland Ice Sheet acquired by Sentinel-3C between 30 September and 4 October. The measurements demonstrate that the altimeter is performing well, with all of the measurement tracks closely matching the reference digital elevation model.

Monitoring changes in the height of the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets is essential for understanding the impacts of climate change and, importantly, for improving predictions of future sea-level rise. Ice loss from the sheets is a major contributor to sea-level rise, and satellite altimetry provides a valuable way of tracking changes in their surface elevation over time.

The animation uses data from Sentinel-3C and generated with the assistance of AI.

Read full story: Sentinel-3C returns its first views of Earth