ESA at 50: five decades of space innovation and cosmic achievements

Europe's new heavy-lift launcher Ariane 6 made its inaugural flight last year. © ESA–L. Bourgeon

This year, 2025, marks the 50th anniversary of the founding of the European Space Agency. Founded in 1975 and headquartered in Paris, ESA has achieved several important milestones in space exploration, space science and Earth observation.

"Fifty years of the European Space Agency (ESA) have been fifty years of remarkable successes. Over these decades, we have developed and launched an extraordinary number of satellites and rockets," ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher told RFI.