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Updated10/07/2026 02:00 
 




ESA Top News

The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe’s gateway to space. Its mission is to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.
ESA Top News
ESA Top News

ESA Top News

January 21st, 2026 07:54:00 EST -0500 εpsilon
εpsilon website

εpsilon

July 9th, 2026 11:10:00 EDT -0400 Satellites in tandem reveal 30 years of Antarctic ice flow
Interferograms of Scar Inlet Ice Shelf in 1995 compared to 2026

Thirty years after the European Space Agency first demonstrated the power of flying two satellites in very close formation, the concept was recently recreated. By temporarily positioning two Copernicus Sentinel-1 radar satellites to replicate the pioneering ERS-1–ERS-2 ‘tandem mission’, ESA achieved one-day repeat radar imaging of the same Antarctic region.

The results once again demonstrate how this approach can be used to measure glacier motion and pinpoint the critical grounding line with exceptional precision.

July 8th, 2026 08:44:00 EDT -0400 Deep space software upgrade for Hera’s asteroid visit
Hera's instruments on its top 'asteroid deck'

Operating across 140 million km of space, the control team for ESA’s Hera mission have succeeded in upgrading the software running the spacecraft, leaving it ready to explore the distant Dimorphos and Didymos asteroids this autumn.

July 8th, 2026 04:36:00 EDT -0400 New European exercise device begins testing with first rope-pulling workout in space
Sophie testing E4D's resistance training in space

ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot has begun testing the European Enhanced Exploration Exercise Device (E4D) on the International Space Station. Installed inside ESA's Columbus laboratory, the new exercise system will spend the next two years helping researchers evaluate innovative ways to keep astronauts healthy during long-duration space missions.  

July 7th, 2026 04:00:00 EDT -0400 Unpacking Europe’s new weather imagers
MTG-I2 was taken out of its protective casing at Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana

The second Meteosat Third Generation Imager satellite (MTG-I2) has begun its launch campaign, during which it will go through final inspections before being fitted inside the fairing of the Ariane 6 rocket that will launch it into space towards the end of the summer. So how will this 3800 kg satellite help improve weather forecasts for Europe and North Africa?

July 3rd, 2026 10:30:00 EDT -0400 The most spectacular aurora of the εpsilon mission (so far!)
Video: 00:01:17

 

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

 

Day 139, orbit 2155 — After the pictures (available in HD on my Flickr account), I'm so happy to finally share the timelapse of the most spectacular aurora of the εpsilon mission so far! 

Watching this glowing green ribbon shimmer and dance, it's easy to lose yourself completely in the magic of the moment. Turn the sound on for the full experience – the music was carefully chosen to bring you as close as possible to what I felt watching this from space .

 

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Jour 139, orbite 2155 – Après les photos (disponibles en HD sur mon compte Flickr), je suis très heureuse de pouvoir enfin partager avec vous le timelapse de l’aurore la plus spectaculaire (jusqu’à présent !) de la mission εpsilon !

 

Difficile de ne pas céder à la magie de l’instant en regardant ce ruban de lumière verte onduler et danser sous nos yeux... Activez le son pour vivre pleinement l’expérience : la musique a été choisie avec soin pour évoquer les émotions que j’ai ressenties en admirant ce spectacle depuis l’espace

July 3rd, 2026 09:15:00 EDT -0400 Week in images: 29 June - 03 July 2026
This image shows the sea surface temperature anomaly detected in the Mediterranean Sea on 29 June 2026.

Week in images: 29 June - 03 July 2026

Discover our week through the lens

July 3rd, 2026 04:00:00 EDT -0400 Earth from Space: Grand Canyon, US
The Grand Canyon, a stunning natural feature in the landscape of Arizona, US, is featured in these two satellite views. Image: The Grand Canyon, a stunning natural feature in the landscape of Arizona, US, is featured in these two satellite views.
July 1st, 2026 09:45:00 EDT -0400 Mediterranean Sea breaks June surface heat record
This image shows the sea surface temperature anomaly detected in the Mediterranean Sea on 29 June 2026. Image: This image shows the sea surface temperature anomaly detected in the Mediterranean Sea on 29 June 2026.