ESA Top Multimedia

MTG captures Earth at June solstice

This image of Earth, with the day-night terminator line clearly visible, was captured by the Meteosat Third Generation (MTG) mission

Spectacular austral aurora

This picture was published as part of a set on social media by ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot, with the following caption:

Day 127, orbit 1968 — That aurora was absolutely spectacular… shimmering and dancing beneath us, stretching as far as the eye could see, and so intense it lit up the Station in shades of green.
We’ve seen several since the beginning of the mission, but this one was on a completely different level – far too bright for my usual aurora camera settings.

Moments like these never get old up here; the whole crew suddenly find themselves vying for a good spot at a window!

Jour 127, orbite 1968 – Cette aurore était absolument spectaculaire… Elle ondulait et dansait sous nos pieds, à perte de vue, et sa lumière était si intense qu’elle illuminait toute la Station de reflets verts.

Nous avons eu la joie d’en observer plusieurs depuis le début de la mission, mais celle‑ci – bien trop lumineuse pour mes réglages habituels de photos d’aurores – nous a tous émerveillés !

Des moments comme celui‑ci ne perdent jamais de leur magie, même ici, et tout l’équipage se retrouve à chercher la meilleure place près d’un hublot !

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The Voice in Orbit | Talking to Astronauts in Space | ESA Explores #20

Meet the voices astronauts hear in space. At ESA’s European Astronaut Centre in Cologne, Germany, the EUROCOM team is the link between crew and ground, guiding astronauts like ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot through their daily work on the International Space Station. Join us as EUROCOM expert Andreas Orth explains how complex operations are translated into clear, real-time communication and what it means to be the one voice connecting Earth and orbit.

This interview was recorded in March 2026.

Listen on all major podcast platforms.

Keep exploring with ESA Explores.

Ariane 6 flight VA269: Liftoff captured from the mobile gantry

On 17 June at 09:21 local time (13:21 BST, 14:21 CEST), Ariane 6 flight VA269 soared to orbit from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana. 36 satellites for Amazon’s Leo constellation left Earth powered by four P160C-based boosters, the first time these upgraded boosters were used – making this launch the most powerful so far for Europe’s heavy-lift rocket.

Earth from Space celebrates 1000 images

ESA’s Earth from Space series reaches its 1000th image with a return to the vibrant waters of southern Florida, Cuba and the Bahamas – the same region featured in the very first edition in 2004.

Sophie Adenot's mid-mission highlights

Sophie is halfway through the εpsilon mission onboard the ISS, and she has already accomplished so much. Between hundreds of hours of scientific research and thousands of photographs taken from space, she has taken the time to share many unforgettable moments with us — inspiring millions along the way on social media.

Ariane 6 flight VA269 - full replay

On the 17th of June Ariane 6 flight VA269 soared to orbit from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana. The latest generation of Europe's largest and most powerful rocket launched 36 satellites for Amazon's Leo constellation.

The debut of the four new boosters based on the P160C solid-propellant rocket motor allowed 36 satellites to be launched, four more than the two Leo launches Ariane 6 had delivered before.

 Ariane 6 is Europe’s heavy-lift launcher and a key element of ESA’s efforts to ensure autonomous access to space for Europe’s citizens. The new P160C boosters increase considerably performance, payload capacity and competitiveness, allowing for more satellites to be launched, further elevating the future of Europe.

347th ESA Council: Media information session

Watch the replay of the media information session where ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher and outgoing ESA Council Chair Renato Krpoun provide an update on the main outcomes of the 347th ESA Council meeting, held at ESA Headquarters in Paris on 16–17 June 2026.

Liftoff: first Ariane 6 liftoff with P160C-based boosters

First Ariane 6 liftoff with most powerful boosters

The debut of the four new boosters based on the P160C solid-propellant rocket motor allowed 36 satellites to be launched, four more than the two Leo launches Ariane 6 had delivered before.

Watch the full replay of the live event

Dust devils galore: Mars Express visits Mamers Valles on Mars

Ariane 6 with P160C-based boosters ready for liftoff

One robotic arm to rule them all

Installing NEMUCO in BioLab

This video was published on social media by ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot with the following caption:

Day 122, orbit 1892 — In this timelapse, I’m installing the European NEMUCO experiment in the BioLab facility of the Columbus laboratory module. Delivered by the CRS-34 cargo mission, NEMUCO explores how nerve and muscle cells develop and communicate in microgravity, compared to samples on Earth.

Without countermeasures – like two hours of daily exercise – astronauts’ muscles not only shrink but also lose strength and coordination. NEMUCO investigates, at the cellular level, how microgravity affects the formation of connections and stability between nerves and muscles, known as neuromuscular junction (NMJ). These are crucial for providing functional muscle!

Understanding these changes will help protect astronauts’ health on future missions and could also support improved therapies on Earth for rehabilitation, aging, and neurodegenerative neuromuscular diseases.

Go science!

Jour 122, orbite 1892 – Dans ce timelapse, j’installe l’expérience européenne NEMUCO dans BioLab, un équipement du module Columbus. Arrivée à bord du cargo CRS‑34, NEMUCO étudie la façon dont les cellules nerveuses et musculaires se développent et communiquent en micropesanteur comparé à des échantillons sur Terre.

Sans contre‑mesures – comme nos deux heures d’exercice quotidien – les muscles des astronautes ont tendance à fondre, mais aussi à perdre en force et en coordination. NEMUCO cherche à comprendre, au niveau cellulaire, comment la micropesanteur influence la formation et la stabilité des connexions entre nerfs et muscles = la jonction neuromusculaire, essentielle à un muscle pleinement fonctionnel !

Mieux comprendre ces mécanismes permettra de protéger la santé des astronautes lors des futures missions… et pourrait aussi contribuer à améliorer des thérapies sur Terre, notamment dans les domaines de la rééducation, du vieillissement ou pour certaines maladies neuromusculaires.

Vive la science !

Robotics at work: Dextre and Canadarm2

This timelapse shows operations by Dextre, a highly precise robotic “handyman” attached to the International Space Station’s robotic arm, Canadarm2.

Dextre is designed for delicate tasks such as repairs, maintenance, and handling small components. Canadarm2 can move around the Station and is used to capture visiting spacecraft and carefully position equipment or astronauts.

Both systems can be operated by astronauts on board the Station as well as by specialized robotics teams on the ground.

Sea-surface temperature

Satellite measurements are showing a sharp surge in sea-surface temperatures across the tropical Pacific in recent months – the clearest early signal that El Niño is back. This powerful climate pattern, and its counterpart La Niña, can supercharge weather worldwide, amplifying extremes from heatwaves and droughts to torrential rainfall, floods and disrupted winter storm tracks, all on top of the effects of the already warming climate driven by human activity.

The animation shows global sea-surface temperature for 1–7 June 2026.

Read full story: Pacific warming signals El Niño has stirred

Sea-surface temperature anomaly

The animation shows early signals of the developing event, highlighting sea-surface temperature anomalies from 1–7 June 2026 compared to the 1991–2020 average for the same period.

Anomalies – the difference between current conditions and the long-term average – are used because El Niño often begins as a subtle shift away from what is considered ‘normal’, and these early changes are easier to see against a reference pattern. Although the temperature differences may appear small, the ocean stores and exchanges enormous amounts of heat, so even slight warming can indicate very large changes in the energy flowing between the ocean and the atmosphere.

Read full story: Pacific warming signals El Niño has stirred

Mission Control | Keeping Columbus Running 24/7 | ESA Explores #19

Step inside the Columbus Control Centre near Munich, Germany, and discover what it takes to keep ESA's Columbus laboratory running—24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Columbus Flight Director Tristan Hermel takes us behind the scenes of mission control, where teams on the ground coordinate operations, support astronauts and work with international partners across the globe.

Get a glimpse of life behind the consoles as ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot carries out her Epsilon mission on board the Space Station.

This interview was recorded in January 2026.

Listen on all major podcast platforms.

Keep exploring with ESA Explores.

ILA Berlin 2026: in-flight call with ESA Astronaut Sophie Adenot

ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot joined ILA Berlin 2026 live from the International Space Station for a special in-flight conversation on life and work in orbit, Europe's ambitions in human spaceflight. The call featured ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher and ESA Director of Human and Robotic Exploration Daniel Neuenschwander, as well as ESA astronauts Alexander Gerst and Matthias Maurer, as well as Thomas Reiter, Head of the Space and Security Department in the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR) and former ESA Astronaut.

Access all ILA 2026 replays.

SpaceX CRS-34 approach and docking

This timelapse was published by ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot on social media with the following caption:

Day 106, orbit 1644 — This timelapse shows the approach and docking of the SpaceX CRS‑34 resupply mission on 17 May. Isn’t it amazing to think that this docking manoeuvre takes place while flying at 28,000 km/h around the Earth?
The blurred dot in the middle of the picture is actually a micrometeoroid impact on the Cupola window… No worries, it’s been there for a long time !

Jour 106, orbite 1644 – Ce timelapse montre les phases d'approche et d’amarrage de la mission de ravitaillement SpaceX CRS‑34 le 17 mai. Incroyable de se dire que cette manœuvre d’amarrage s’effectue à 28 000 km/h autour de la Terre !
Le point flou au centre de l’image est un impact de micrométéoroïde sur le hublot de la Cupola… mais pas d’inquiétude, il n’est pas récent !

Installing MatISS-4, designed to trap atmospheric contaminants

This timelapse was published by ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot on social media with the following caption:

Day 105, orbit 1629 — This accelerated video shows the installation of MatISS-4, a French experiment that aims to collect and study the biocontamination of the air inside the European Columbus module. Biocontamination – such as small skin cells, droplets from sneezes or saliva, and bacteria – is unavoidable, so we make sure to clean surfaces every week (I’ll publish a housekeeping timelapse soon!), but some areas are particularly hard to reach…

Over 10 years, MatISS has shown that the Station’s systems are very efficient; after several months of exposure, the contamination level inside the MatISS cases remains low. MatISS-4 features a new design, which will allow the contaminated membranes to be analysed at the European Synchrotron in Grenoble using an X-ray nano-imaging instrument. Go science!

MatISS has also enabled researchers to identify surfaces that are more resistant to biocontamination, opening up many applications on Earth: in public transportation, where thousands of people touch the same surfaces every day, in places where limiting contamination is key, such as hospitals, cruise ships, and submarines, and even in livestock farming. Less biocontamination = less cleaning with chemical products!

Jour 105, orbite 1629 – Cette vidéo accélérée montre l’installation de MatISS‑4, une expérience française qui vise à collecter et étudier la biocontamination de l’air à l’intérieur du module européen Columbus. La biocontamination – cellules de peau, éternuements, postillons, bactéries – est inévitable. Nous nettoyons les surfaces chaque semaine (je publierai bientôt un timelapse de ménage !), mais certaines zones sont particulièrement difficiles d’accès…

Depuis plus de 10 ans, MatISS démontre que les systèmes de la Station sont très efficaces ; après plusieurs mois d’exposition, le niveau de contamination à l’intérieur des boîtiers reste faible. MatISS‑4 présente un nouveau design, qui permettra d’analyser les membranes contaminées à l’aide d’un instrument de nano-imagerie X du synchrotron européen de Grenoble. Vive la science !

MatISS a également permis aux chercheurs d’identifier des surfaces plus résistantes à la biocontamination, ouvrant la voie à de nombreuses applications sur Terre : dans les transports publics, où des milliers de personnes touchent les mêmes surfaces chaque jour , dans les lieux où limiter la contamination est essentiel, tels que les hôpitaux, les navires de croisière et les sous‑marins, et même dans les élevages. Moins de biocontamination = moins de nettoyage avec des produits chimiques !

DNA Nano Therapeutics‑3 experiment timelapse

In this timelapse, ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot processes blood stem cell samples to help scientists understand how larger quantities of clinical‑grade stem cells could be produced in microgravity. This research aims to improve stem cell quality, with potential applications in treating blood diseases and cancer, while also opening new avenues for commercial research in orbit.

The Life Science Glovebox, located in the Kibo module, allows biological samples to be handled in a fully sealed workspace designed to ensure strict containment. Preventing contamination is critical on the ISS – both to protect the crew and to maintain the integrity of the research.

Inflight call with ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot

On 20 May, ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot conducted an in-flight call with selected media representatives live aboard the International Space Station. During the discussion, Sophie shared insights into life and research in orbit, including scientific experiments supporting human health, climate science and future space exploration.

Exploring IV fluid production in space

In this timelapse, ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot is seen working inside the Life Science Glovebox of the Kibo laboratory module, as she explores ways to use the International Space Station’s potable water to produce medical‑grade intravenous fluids, such as saline solutions. The Intravenous Fluid Generation - Mini technology demonstration aims to reduce the crew’s reliance on cargo missions while preventing medical supplies from expiring during long‑duration spaceflight.

A Saturday‑night dinner onboard the International Space Station

After an intense few weeks the crew took time to celebrate together with a shared meal proposed by ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot.

It’s a long‑standing tradition: each ESA astronaut works with a chef to create a few special dishes reserved for rare occasions — known as “bonus food”. Sophie’s bonus food was created by multi‑Michelin‑starred chef Anne‑Sophie Pic, offering the crew a taste of French gastronomy far from Earth.

Bonus food, tailored to specific crew members, makes up around one tenth of an astronaut’s menu. Astronauts say it adds variety to their meals, supports mental well‑being, and helps strengthen bonds among the crew in orbit.

Everyday operations in orbit: toilet maintenance

In this timelapse, ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot performs routine maintenance on the Waste and Hygiene Compartment, or WHC – the ISS toilet system. She is replacing the full solid-waste container in which solid waste is vacuum-dried, compressed and kept airtight. This operation typically takes place once or twice a week, when the container reaches capacity.

Tidying up the Columbus module

This timelapse shows ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot tidying the European Columbus laboratory aboard the International Space Station. Keeping the Station organised is crucial for crew safety and smooth operations, ensuring that science and maintenance can continue without interruption.

Every item has its place, and as crews rotate every few months, ground teams play an important role in helping locate any item needed for an experiment or a maintenance task.

Behind the scenes: Filming in microgravity

During her free time onboard the International Space Station, ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot records videos exploring many aspects of living and working in a microgravity environment for the εpsilon mission. This timelapse offers a real behind-the-scenes look at a filming session.

First-of-its-kind ship-to-ship call

The first‑of‑its‑kind ship‑to‑ship call between astronauts on deep‑space and low Earth orbit missions.On 7 April, the Artemis II crew of NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch, together with CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, spoke with Expedition 74 astronauts Chris Williams, Jack Hathaway and Jessica Meir of NASA, and ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Sophie Adenot aboard the International Space Station.

Artemis II splashdown

Today, at 17:07 local time (Pacific) on 10 April (01:07 BST/02:07 CEST on 11 April), NASA's Orion spacecraft and its crew splashed down safely in the Pacific Ocean, marking the successful end of the Artemis II mission, humankind's first journey around the Moon since Apollo 17 in 1972.

ESA's European Service Module powered the spacecraft over 1 million kilometres through in deep space, providing air and water for the astronauts, generating electrical power via its four solar arrays, maintaining thermal control and delivering propulsion.

Mostly built by European industry under ESA leadership, the European Service Module was assembled by Airbus Defence and Space in Bremen, Germany, with contributions from companies across 13 European countries, involving 20 main contractors and over 100 European suppliers.

Throughout the mission, European engineers supported operations around the clock from ESA's centres in the Netherlands and Germany, as well as alongside NASA teams in Houston, ensuring Orion and its crew completed their journey safely around the Moon and back home.

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