How Webb’s NIRSpec instrument opened up 200 windows to our origins
Astronomy is driven by big questions, and they don’t come much bigger than wondering how the first stars and galaxies began to form – eventually giving rise to our own existence. The answers lie buried in the far distant Universe, so distant that the light traveled billions of years to reach us, carrying the images Read More
Navigating the sea from space with innovative technologies
Shipping is the most energy efficient form of transport, and more than 80% of goods traded globally are carried via the oceans, with a doubling in volume during the last quarter of a century. Recognising the global need for seamless maritime navigation, ESA’s Navigation Innovation and Support Programme, NAVISP – inventing the future of navigation with Read More
Bringing Mars rock samples back to Earth
Short animation featuring key moments of the Mars Sample Return campaign: from landing on Mars and securing the sample tubes to launching them off the surface and ferrying them back to Earth. NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) are developing plans for one of the most ambitious campaigns ever attempted in space: bringing the Read More
Putting a value on ESA’s Aeolus wind mission
Over the last four years, ESA’s Aeolus mission has been delivering unique profiles of Earth’s winds from space, improving operational weather forecasts, climate models and more – all showing that its novel laser technology is advancing science and being used for important practical applications. Adding to the list of Aeolus’ successes, a recent report highlights Read More
ESA’s site for laser and quantum links marks 25 years
ESA’s Optical Ground Station, perched high on the slopes of Tenerife’s Mount Teide volcano, has now been peering skyward for a quarter of a century. Originally designed for laser-based communications with satellites, it is today additionally employed for tracking space debris and near-Earth asteroids as well as supporting world-class science: this year’s Physics Nobel Prize Read More
ESA – Shaun the Sheep mission patch
Official patches have been worn by astronauts since 1965. Shaun's patch is bordered in ESA Deep Space blue, with a red inner ring representing ESA's Science and Exploration. Shaun is seen examining the Moon and his inspirational motto for this mission, 'Reach for the staaars'. The stars in the background represent all his friends on Read More
ESA – Forest Kids game on biodiversity now available
To mark World Children's Day, the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has launched an online forest game for young children, developed with the support of ESA. Forest Kids game boreal forest The game, called Forest Kids, guides children on an expedition around the world and invites the virtual travellers to explore four types Read More
Earth from Space: Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt
World leaders, policymakers and delegates from nearly 200 countries have convened in Sharm El-Sheikh over the past two weeks at the COP27 UN Climate Summit. Today we take a closer look at the Egyptian city through the eyes of Copernicus Sentinel-2. Sharm El-Sheikh is an Egyptian resort city on the southeast tip of the Sinai Read More
Presented by Entelgy Digital – ENAIRE wins award for its Cybersecurity Culture Training Programme
• ENAIRE is a "leader in cybersecurity awareness and collaborative success between Information and Communication Technologies and people" • ENAIRE's Cybersecurity, Systems and Campus units took part in the awareness campaign • The award recognises the dedication of the professionals to this training photo caption: Gerardo Sarmiento Head of Cybersecurity and Maite García Guillén Head Read More
NOAA adopts Finland’s CubeSat-proven space weather monitor
An advanced X-ray monitoring instrument tested for space aboard an ESA CubeSat will serve as an operational space weather payload on the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Space Weather Next Lagrange 1 Series satellite, currently planned for launch in 2028, which will operate 1.5 million km from Earth, keeping watch for eruptions from our Read More