ESA Top Multimedia
ESA spots asteroid that made very close approach to Earth
ESA spots asteroid that made very close approach to EarthInauguration of ESA's fourth deep space antenna
The inauguration ceremony was led by ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher alongside Enrico Palermo, Head of the Australian Space Agency.The IRIDE programme
IRIDE, which stands for International Report for an Innovative Defence of Earth, is an ambitious Italian Earth observation programme. It will provide information for a wide range of environmental, emergency and security products and services that will help public authorities to make decisions based on scientific data from space.
Coordinated by ESA with support from the Italian Space Agency (ASI), the IRIDE programme involves the deployment of six satellite constellations. It is one of the most complex and comprehensive Earth observation satellite systems in the world. Each constellation carries specific satellite technology, from radar and optical to hyperspectral and multispectral instruments.
The overall IRIDE constellation is expected to be operational by June 2026.
Closing ceremony of the 76th International Astronautical Congress (IAC) 2025
Follow the closing ceremony of the 76th International Astronautical Congress (IAC) held in Sydney, Australia from 29 September to 3 October 2025. IAC 2025 was hosted by Space Industry Association of Australia (SIAA) and co-hosted by Australian Space Agency and NSW Government. The theme of IAC Sydney 2025 was “Sustainable Space: Resilient Earth” which set the stage for important discussions such as: space-based application for earth; sustainable space activities; and sustaining life off earth. Key focus areas included showcasing the Asia Pacific region, inspiring and engaging the next generation’s space workforce, engaging a broad range of industries, and educating the community about ‘why space matters’ through the IAC’s open day.
The ceremony was hosted by Christian Feichtinger, IAC with the following speakers: Gabriella Arrigo, Asi; Asanda Ntisana, South African Space Agency and Jeremy Hallett, Space Industry Association of Australia.
IRIDE constellations
IRIDE’s system consists of six constellations equipped with sensors for Earth observation. It is one of the most complex and comprehensive Earth observation satellite systems in the world.
Each of the six constellations carries different types of sensors, from radar and optical to hyperspectral and multispectral instruments, which detect a wide range of characteristics of the Earth’s surface, providing the core inputs for the data products and services offered by IRIDE.
The overall IRIDE constellation is expected to be operational by June 2026.
Tracking satellites at the speed of light
2025 marks a landmark year for Europe’s ‘bridge between Earth and space’. The European Space Agency’s Estrack satellite tracking network turns 50.
Since its inception in 1975, Estrack – ESA’s global network of ground stations – has formed the vital communication bridge between satellites in orbit and mission control at the European Space Operations Centre (ESOC) in Darmstadt, Germany.
Now comprising six stations spanning six countries, Estrack has grown into a strategic asset for Europe, enabling communication with spacecraft, transmitting commands and receiving scientific data.
The network keeps an eye on satellites no matter their location: tracking them across Earth orbit, voyaging to comets or asteroids, keeping station at the scientifically important Sun-Earth Lagrange points, and deep into our Solar System. It even keeps tabs on European launchers as they soar into orbit, ensuring no rocket is ever out of reach.
This year, ESA is also expanding its deep space communication capabilities with the construction of a new 35-metre deep space antenna – the fourth of its kind. It will be joining the existing one at New Norcia station, Australia, to help meet the Agency's fast increasing data download needs.
Josef Aschbacher addresses the IAC 2025 panel on Space Sustainability: Regional Priorities, Global Responsibility
Follow the questions to ESA DG during the IAC 2025 panel on Space Sustainability, moderated by Heriberto Saldivar (Head of Strategy, ESA).
Yellow and blue, old and new
Yellow and blue, old and newSample processing
The intricate mechanisms of the most sophisticated laboratory on Mars are revealed in Episode 4 of the ExoMars Rosalind Franklin series, called “Sample processing.”
The Rosalind Franklin rover’s drill has a maximum reach of two metres – deeper than any other mission has ever attempted on the Red Planet. This depth allows access to well-preserved organic material from four billion years ago, when conditions on the surface of Mars were more like those on infant Earth.
After receiving a sample from the drill, Rosalind’s laboratory must prepare the sample to make a detailed study of its mineral and chemical composition. The rover’s Analytical Laboratory Drawer (ALD) mechanisms execute a pre-programmed choreography of sample manipulations to make sure that the instruments can do their job.
The ExoMars Rosalind Franklin mission is part of Europe’s ambitious exploration journey to search for past and present signs of life on Mars.
For the latest mission updates, visit ESA’s ExoMars website and our FAQ section.
Earth from Space: Kilauea lava lake, Hawaii
Fly over Xanthe Terra with Mars Express
ESA’s Mars Express takes us on another mesmerising flight over curving channels carved by water, islands that have resisted erosion, and a maze of hilly terrain.
Central to the tour is a 1300 km-long outflow channel called Shalbatana Vallis. It cascades down from the highland region of Xanthe Terra to the smoother lowlands of Chryse Planitia.
Billions of years ago, water surged through this channel, creating many of the features we see today.
The tour culminates in a spectacular view of a 100 km-wide impact crater, smashed out of Mars’s surface when it collided with a space rock.
Enjoy the flight, and be sure to turn up the volume for the full audio guide experience.
Processing notes:
This film was created using the Mars Express High Resolution Stereo Camera Mars Chart (HMC30) data, an image mosaic made from single orbit observations of the mission’s High Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC). The mosaic image, centred at 5°N/320°E, is combined with topography information from the digital terrain model to generate a three-dimensional landscape.
For every second of the movie, 50 separate frames are rendered following a predefined camera path in the scene. The vertical exaggeration used for the animation is three-fold. Atmospheric effects, like clouds and haze, have been added to conceal the limits of the terrain model. The haze starts building up at a distance of 250 km.
The HRSC camera on Mars Express is operated by the German Aerospace Center (DLR). The systematic processing of the camera data took place at the DLR Institute for Planetary Research in Berlin-Adlershof. The working group of Planetary Science and Remote Sensing at Freie Universität Berlin used the data to create the film.
IAC 2025 - Space Sustainability: Regional Priorities, Global Responsibility
Space sustainability is becoming a defining principle for how space activities are designed, launched, operated, and governed.
It is essential for both securing the future of space missions and ensuring that the benefits of space continue to support life on Earth. It is also our responsibility to protect the environments we interact with – on Earth, in orbit, and on other celestial bodies such as the Moon.
With increasing launch rates, growing congestion in orbit, and expanding exploration missions, the space sector faces urgent sustainability challenges. These developments call for transformative approaches to reduce environmental impacts on Earth, use resources more efficiently in space, and manage waste responsibly beyond our planet.
This panel will not stop at highlighting the problems. The focus is on practical solutions. Representatives from a diverse group of space agencies will present concrete objectives and strategies designed to mitigate risks and enhance sustainability. Topics will include climate impacts, the protection of dark and quiet skies, and the mitigation of orbital debris, all viewed through the lenses of technological innovation, international cooperation, and regulatory development. Key questions to be explored include:
- How are space agencies integrating sustainability into their strategies and missions?
- In what ways do priorities vary across regions, and what can we learn from these different approaches?
- Which initiatives are already being implemented to support responsible and long-term space activities?
Featuring perspectives from the European Space Agency, Australian Space Agency, NASA, Korea Space Agency, and Philippine Space Agency, this panel aims to encourage meaningful action toward a sustainable space sector – one that remains accessible, safe, and beneficial for future generations.
Event Facilitator & Speakers
Facilitator:
- Heriberto SALDIVAR
- Head of Strategy, European Space Agency (ESA)
- France
Speakers:
- Josef ASCHBACHER
- Director General, European Space Agency (ESA)
- France
- Alvin DREW
- Director for NASA Space Sustainability, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
- United States
- Gay Jane P. PEREZ
- Deputy Director General for Space Science and Technology, Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA)
- Philippines
- Enrico PALERMO
- Head, Australian Space Agency
- Australia
ESA Open Day 2025: an unforgettable day inside ESRIN
English ESA Open Day 2025: an unforgettable day inside ESRIN
On 26 September 2025, the European Space Agency welcomed the public to ESRIN, its centre for Earth Observation programmes near Rome. Visitors had the unique opportunity to step inside ESA and discover how space science and innovation are shaping our future. From protecting our planet to unveiling the mysteries of the Universe, nearly 2 000 attendees embarked on a journey through ESA’s mission and vision.
Italiano ESA Open Day 2025: una giornata indimenticabile alla scoperta dell’ESRIN
Il 26 settembre 2025, l’Agenzia Spaziale Europea ha aperto le porte al pubblico presso l’ESRIN, il centro dedicato ai programmi di Osservazione della Terra, vicino a Roma. I visitatori hanno avuto l’opportunità unica di entrare nel cuore dell’ESA e scoprire come la scienza e l’innovazione spaziale stanno plasmando il nostro futuro. Dalla protezione del pianeta alla scoperta dei misteri dell’Universo, quasi 2 000 partecipanti hanno intrapreso un viaggio attraverso le missioni dell’ESA.
Sentinel-6B ready to start its launch campaign
SAGA signature 1/09/2025
ESA has signed with Thales Alenia Space for the phase B2 of SAGA, a mission for European secure communications.EPIC prizewinners visit IAC 2025
From inner to outer space
IAC 2025 plenary on humanity's return to the Moon
Astronaut Frank de Winne speaks at IAC 2025 plenary
ESA Director of Commercialisation, Industry and Competitiveness speaks at IAC 2025
ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher at the IAF Global Space Leaders Summit
ESA Director General speaking at the IAF Global Space Leaders Summit
Global space leaders assembled in Sydney
IAF Global Space Leaders Summit
ESA Director of Earth Observation speaking at IAC 2025
ESA and KASA begin new cooperation
Enceladus orbiting within Saturn's E ring
ESA and KASA sign Memorandum of Understanding
Webb brings cosmic lenses into focus
Webb brings cosmic lenses into focus