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In 1975, 10 European countries came together with a vision to collaborate on key space activities: science and astronomy, launch capabilities and space applications: the European Space Agency, ESA, was born.

In 2025, we mark half a century of joint European achievement – filled with firsts and breakthroughs in science, exploration and technology, and the space infrastructure and economy that power Europe today.

During the past five decades ESA has grown, developing ever bolder and bigger projects and adding more Member States, with Slovenia joining as the latest full Member State in January.

We’ll also celebrate the 50th anniversary of ESA’s

Global warming is driving the rapid melting of the Greenland Ice Sheet, contributing to global sea level rise and disrupting weather patterns worldwide. Because of this, precise measurements of its changing shape are of critical importance for adapting to climate change.

Now, scientists have delivered the first measurements of the Greenland Ice Sheet’s changing shape using data from ESA's CryoSat and NASA's ICESat-2 ice missions.

In future missions to Mars, astronauts will need to maximise the use of all resources available on site to produce essential supplies like oxygen, water and fuel. A team from Spanish technological centre Tekniker and the University of Cantabria is developing a system that uses sunlight to turn carbon dioxide and wastewater into methane, which can be used as fuel.

Image: Happy holidays from Hera!

Image: With the festive season approaching, even Earth-observing satellites are getting into the spirit, capturing a stunning compilation of European cities that resemble stars.

Image: Hera asteroid mission in your house

Year in images 2024

Our year through the lens: a selection of our favourite images for 2023

Sydney, Australia (SPX) Dec 20, 2024
China successfully launched four Earth-observation radar satellites into space early Tuesday morning aboard a Long March 2D rocket, according to China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC). The launch took place at 2:50 am from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in Shanxi province, marking a significant step in China's expanding satellite network. The four satellites, named