
Copernical Team
Hera asteroid mission’s first step

From the Earth to the Moon and on to Mars – ESA and NASA take decisions and plan for the future
Press Release N° 30–2022
The next steps in exploring and using space for the benefit of European citizens were this week on the agenda at ESA’s Council meeting in ESA/ESTEC, the Netherlands on 14 and 15 June. The possibility of the first-ever European astronaut to set foot on the Moon, a telecommunication satellite for lunar exploration and a mission to return precious rock samples from Mars were all discussed.
China's lunar lander finds evidence of native water on moon

Samples from the Moon's Oceanus Procellarum, an ancient mare basalt whose name translates to "Ocean of Storms," may be able to help determine the source of lunar water.
China's lunar lander Chang'E-5 delivered the first real-time, on-site definitive confirmation of water signal in the basalt's rocks and soil via on-board spectral analysis in 2020. The finding was validated through laboratory analysis of samples the lander returned in 2021.
Satellite images suggest Iran preparing for rocket launch

ESA mission control builds UK connections

The ongoing collaboration between the UK and ESA’s European Space Operations Centre (ESOC) in Germany is playing a key role in the success of numerous pioneering space activities.
Watch the ESA Council information session

The media information session following the 308th ESA Council will be streamed on 15 June from 12:40 to 13:15 CEST at esawebtv.esa.int. Join us to hear more about the cooperation between ESA and NASA.
NASA Invites Media, Public to View Webb Telescope’s First Images

Going GaN: novel chips powering space missions

Some of ESA’s most ambitious future missions for telecommunications and Earth observation have only become possible because of a switch to a novel high-power and high-temperature capable semiconductor – sometimes termed the most promising material since silicon. ESA laboratory testing has confirmed the performance of key European-made Gallium Nitride components.
Difficult-to-observe effect confirms the existence of quark mass

New feedback system can improve efficiency of fusion reactions
