The Latest Breaking News from the European Space Agency

In 2024, ESA flew bouncing hexapods to 256 km on a Swedish sounding rocket; six minutes of microgravity showed how complex grains collide and transfer energy

A Swedish rocket successfully launched miniature brass crosses designed for microgravity research. Scientists are investigating how these irregularly shaped particles interact and lose energy upon collision, advancing our understanding of celestial objects such as asteroids and planetary rings. The implications of this study extend to industrial applications on Earth, with…

The Economic Times · Sep 12

French ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet: Europe must 'maximise scientific return' from ISS before closure

The French astronaut urged Europe and his home country to "maximise the scientific return" from the European Space Agency's next mission to the International Space Station, while stressing the importance of spaceflight for Europe’s strategic sovereignty in space.

Euronews · Sep 11

In 2004, ESA grew rocket seeds on the ISS with André Kuipers; after four days, dark-grown seedlings were taller and yellow, while lit ones stayed smaller and green

A 2004 space project involving astronaut Andre Kuipers and schoolchildren explored plant growth factors. Thousands of students participated, comparing classroom results with those from the International Space Station. Plants in darkness grew tall and yellow, while those in light were greener and shorter. This experiment demonstrated light and gravity's importance…

The Economic Times · Sep 11

'Beginning of a New Era': Germany's Isar Aerospace Launches First Commercial Rocket Into Orbit From Continental Europe

Isar Aerospace's Spectrum rocket becomes the first commercial rocket to reach orbit from continental Europe, marking a significant milestone for European space independence and strategic autonomy.

International Business Times UK · Sep 6

Galileo, Copernicus, Cleansky, IRIS² must work together to secure Europe’s place in the space race

“Seeing the Earth from above is a powerful reminder of our interdependence,” Thomas Pesquet. The words of France’s tenth astronaut to head into Space are a reminder of how we are “in this together”, something that the world’s Aerospace industry players should take heed of as they gather in Paris…

The Conversation · Sep 6

A pair of spacecraft draw closer to Mercury after nearly decade-long voyage

Two Mercury-bound spacecraft are in the home stretch of their nearly decade-long voyage

The Independent UK · Sep 3

Watch 2 astronauts take 6th-ever all-female spacewalk today

NASA astronaut Jessica Meir and France's Sophie Adenot will conduct the sixth all-female spacewalk outside the International Space Station today (Sept. 1), and you can watch it live.

Space · Sep 1

ESA signs first major European Launcher Challenge contract with Spain's PLD Space

ESA has signed its first contract with PLD Space under the European Launcher Challenge, worth 158.9 million euros, to boost MIURA 5 launches and new orbital capabilities.

Euronews · Aug 27

Who Is Sophie Adenot? Facts About France's First Female Helicopter Test Pilot Making Spacewalking History

Sophie Adenot becomes the first Frenchwoman to perform a spacewalk at the ISS, marking a significant milestone in her career and inspiring future generations of female astronauts.

International Business Times UK · Aug 19

She was rejected by NASA at 14, then unpacked a space toilet: Claire Parfitt’s unlikely journey from a teenage work-experience placement to leading Mars exploration studies at the European Space Agency

At 14, Claire Parfitt dreamed of working in space and applied to NASA, only to be rejected. She instead landed a work placement at Leicester’s National Space Centre, where she helped unpack a space toilet. More than two decades later, that unexpected first step has led her to the European…

The Economic Times · Aug 14