What did space deliver for Europe this month? From asteroid flybys to Mars landing tests, new discoveries from Webb and Hubble, and ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot capturing shooting stars from orbit, here’s your monthly roundup from the European Space Agency.

This month also saw ESA team up with DON’T NOD for Aphelion, a sci-fi adventure inspired by real space science and exploration.

COMSO chief Col.

Week in images: 25-29 May 2026

Discover our week through the lens

A number of new Chinese state-led and commercial rockets are set for debuts and fresh first stage recovery attempts in the coming weeks and months.

The Secure and cryptographic (Saga) mission is the European Space Agency’s (ESA) initiative to enable highly secure cryptographic key distribution from space using Quantum Key Distribution (QKD). As cyber threats continue to evolve, the technologies developed and demonstrated under Saga are designed to strengthen Europe’s digital resilience and strategic autonomy by supporting highly secure communications.

A Blue Origin New Glenn rocket exploded on its launch pad at Cape Canaveral, Florida, during a May 28 hotfire test, destroying the rocket and causing extensive pad damage.

Observable Space, a company that develops optical systems for laser communications and space domain awareness, has raised $90 million and secured a U.S.