Discovering new gases on Mars – with video

The ESA-Roscosmos ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter is investigating the martian atmosphere. Discovering new gases related to active process and looking for their sources is a key goal of the mission. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8jkTweQqyY&feature=emb_logo ExoMars has discovered hydrogen chloride for the first time. It appeared during a global dust storm in 2018 and disappeared again afterwards. The detection Read More

NASA astronaut Victor Glover – Keeping it fluid

NASA astronaut Victor Glover installs the Fluid Dynamics in Space experiment, or Fluidics for short. Fluidics is the black cylinder pictured in the foreground of the European Columbus module of the International Space Station.Developed by French space agency CNES and co-funded by Airbus, the Fluidics experiment is probing how fluids behave in weightlessness. photo copyright Read More

ESA’s Solar Orbiter ducks behind the Sun

What happens when the Solar System's No. 1 source of violent energy interferes with spacecraft communication? Name? Solar Orbiter, or ‘Solo’ as the mission control team fondly call it, is one of the European Space Agency’s pluckiest missions and is now cruising toward the Sun. photo copyright ESA Solar Orbiter views 'campfires' on the Sun Read More

Gravity-Related Experiments Training Week 2021 concludes as student projects officially start

Last week another online training session organized by ESA Academy’s Training and Learning Programme concluded with over 30 University students who are now setting off on a year-long adventure of building, testing and performing experiments on gravity altering platforms. A few weeks ago, 8 new teams were selected for some of ESA Academy’s hand-on programmes Read More

Sentinel-6 passes in-orbit tests with flying colours

In November 2020, the Copernicus Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich satellite was launched into orbit from the Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, US. Now, months later, the satellite has successfully passed what is known as the ‘in-orbit verification phase’, where its equipment is switched on and the instruments’ performance is checked. The Copernicus Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich Read More

ESA seeks new astronauts – applications open 31 March 2021

For the first time in 11 years, ESA is looking for new astronauts. These recruits will work alongside ESA’s existing astronauts as Europe enters a new era of space exploration. photo ESA Media representatives are invited to a virtual press event on Tuesday, 16 February, to learn more about the vacancies that are intended to Read More

NASA Awards Launch Services Contract for SPHEREx Astrophysics Mission

NASA's Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization and Ices Explorer (SPHEREx) mission is targeted to launch in 2023. SPHEREx will help astronomers understand both how our universe evolved and how common are the ingredients for life in our galaxy’s planetary systems. NASA has selected Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) of Hawthorne, California, Read More

Lunar transit Falcon 9 from LC-40 Cape Canaveral

What a beautiful night for a lunar transit Falcon 9 from LC-40 Cape Canaveral Florida 2/4/21. B-1060.5 landed on the drone ship but is leaning due to high seas and wind in the recovery area. All 60 Starlink satellites were successfully deployed. Congratulations to everyone at SpaceX for an amazing launch. Photo Credit: Scott Schilke Read More