Copernical Team
ESA astronaut reserve completes training programme
ESA’s astronaut reserve members have completed their Astronaut Reserve Training (ART) programme, marking a key milestone in Europe’s human spaceflight ambitions.
Earth from Space: Algerian arid landscape
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The sandy and rocky terrain of the Sahara desert in central Algeria is featured in these images captured by the Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission. Insights into Earth’s molten outer core from space
The liquid iron in Earth’s outer core doesn’t always behave as expected. When it changed direction in an unexplained way, ESA satellites provided data on the direction of flow, helping scientists gain better insight into the dynamics at the centre of our planet.
Join ESA for a total solar eclipse on 12 August 2026
Follow the total solar eclipse with the European Space Agency (ESA), in person or online.
Stay space chemical compliant in the EU
On 2 June, the European Space Agency (ESA) will hold its free REACH workshop on chemical compliance in the space sector. This all-day event will be held at ESA’s technical centre in the Netherlands, with an option to join online.
Inflight call with ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot
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On 20 May, ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot conducted an in-flight call with selected media representatives live aboard the International Space Station. During the discussion, Sophie shared insights into life and research in orbit, including scientific experiments supporting human health, climate science and future space exploration.
Hyguane: towards low-carbon hydrogen for Europe’s Spaceport
ESA and Spain strengthen ties for secure connectivity
The European Space Agency (ESA) and the Agencia Espacial Española (AEE) signed a Memorandum of Intent on 20 May to strengthen cooperation on secure satellite connectivity, reinforcing Spain’s growing strategic role in Europe’s space and resilience ambitions.
Greenlight for next two ESA Scout missions
The European Space Agency is expanding its growing fleet of Earth-observing science Scout missions with the selection of two new satellites: Hibidis and SOVA-S.
Chosen from four final competing concepts, these missions will tackle very different but equally pressing scientific questions – from biodiversity below forest canopies to the effects of atmospheric gravity waves high above Earth.
Smile launch highlights
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ESA’s Smile satellite launched aboard a Vega-C rocket from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana. The rocket lifted off on at 04:52 BST / 05:52 CEST (00:52 local time) on 19 May 2026.
Smile flew to space on Vega-C flight VV29. At 35 m tall, a Vega-C weighs 210 tonnes on the launch pad and the rocket used three solid-propellant-powered stages to take Smile to orbit before the fourth liquid-propellant stage took over for a precise drop-off around Earth.Smile (the Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer) is a joint mission between the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Chinese