On this Earth Day, we reflect on the importance of protecting our planet for future generations. Understanding the Earth system and the complex interactions that shape our planet is paramount for addressing environmental challenges, mitigating climate change, preparing for natural disasters, managing resources sustainably and conserving biodiversity. Each component of the Earth system – from […]
Archive | ESA
Week in images: 15-19 April 2024
Week in images: 15-19 April 2024 Discover our week through the lens To source
ESA and the EU agree to accelerate the use of space
ESA will work closely with the EU to use space to improve life on Earth, following an agreement signed today by ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher (left) and the European Commission’s Director-General for Defence Industry and Space, Timo Pesonen. To source
Earth from Space: The Mekong Delta
Image: Earth from Space: The Mekong Delta To source
Watch live: ESA astronaut class of 2022 graduation ceremony
To source
Rare sighting of ‘doomed’ SOHO comet during solar eclipse
Image: Photo of total solar eclipse To source
Hubble goes hunting for small main-belt asteroids
Astronomers recently used a trove of archived images taken by the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope to visually snag a largely unseen population of smaller asteroids in their tracks. The treasure hunt required pursuing 37 000 Hubble images spanning 19 years. The payoff was finding 1701 asteroid trails, with 1031 of those asteroids uncatalogued. About 400 […]
Dubai floods seen from space
Image: Dubai floods seen from space To source
Estonia pioneers instrument for Comet Interceptor mission through Prodex
An ESA programme called Prodex has enabled Estonian researchers and industry to join an international mission to intercept and examine a comet entering the inner Solar System for the first time. To source
ESA selects four new Earth Explorer mission ideas
As humans exert greater pressure on natural processes, understanding the intricate workings of our Earth system is increasingly vital for effective action on mitigation and adaption strategies. ESA’s Earth Explorer missions yield a wealth of astonishing findings, serving as the bedrock of scientific research in this field. Now, four new concepts have been selected to […]
Ariane 6 launches: is it a plane? Aircraft spotting with ISTSat
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EarthCARE out of the box
After being packed up in Germany, a long voyage to the US and then a month in storage, ESA’s EarthCARE satellite has been carefully lifted out of its transport container so that the team at the launch site can start getting it ready for its big day in May. To source
Sleeping giant surprises Gaia scientists
Wading through the wealth of data from ESA’s Gaia mission , scientists have uncovered a ‘sleeping giant’. A large black hole, with a mass of nearly 33 times the mass of the Sun, was hiding in the constellation Aquila, less than 2000 light-years from Earth. This is the first time a black hole of stellar […]