A defunct military weather satellite has broken up in orbit and created more than 50 pieces of debris, the latest in a series of similar incidents.

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.

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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

Image: Hera asteroid mission in your house

Image: Happy holidays from Hera!

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.

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Dec 20, 2024
Airbus U.S. Space and Defense and Aerostar successfully completed a joint Internal Research and Development (IRAD) stratospheric test flight as part of their Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA). The test demonstrated the use of satellite backhaul technologies on high-altitude platforms for enhanced Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities. The mi