European Space Agency
@esa

Elevating the future of Europe through space. Please see our Privacy Notice: esa.int/connectwithus

 Europe
esa.int/
Joined February 2009
14,586 Photos and videos
European Space Agency retweeted
ESA Science
@esascience
Sep 24
🚨Competition alert 🚨 Craft a #WelcomeToMercury message for Bepi and Mio and stand a chance to win a trip to Germany and witness the ESA/JAXA @BepiColombo mission arrive at Mercury! The message could be a drawing, song, poem or any other art form. Details 👉 esa.int/Science_Exploration/…
Illustration showing cartoon characters Bepi and Mio waving in the centre. Bepi represents ESA's Mercury Planetary Orbiter and Mio is JAXA's Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter. Together they are part of the ESA/JAXA BepiColombo mission. On the right side of the image, we see the ESA logoon the top and part of planet Mercury on the bottom. On the left side of the characters and underneath them, a text reads ‘Welcome BepiColombo to Mercury! Get ready to celebrate BepiColombo’s arrival at Mercury. Craft a welcoming message as a drawing, song, poem or any other art form. The prize is a trip to ESA’s BepiColombo event in Germany. Enter at esa.int/WelcomeToMercury by 25 October 2026. Hashtag WelcomeToMercury’.

ALT Illustration showing cartoon characters Bepi and Mio waving in the centre. Bepi represents ESA's Mercury Planetary Orbiter and Mio is JAXA's Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter. Together they are part of the ESA/JAXA BepiColombo mission. On the right side of the image, we see the ESA logoon the top and part of planet Mercury on the bottom. On the left side of the characters and underneath them, a text reads ‘Welcome BepiColombo to Mercury! Get ready to celebrate BepiColombo’s arrival at Mercury. Craft a welcoming message as a drawing, song, poem or any other art form. The prize is a trip to ESA’s BepiColombo event in Germany. Enter at esa.int/WelcomeToMercury by 25 October 2026. Hashtag WelcomeToMercury’.

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Our Ramses planetary defence spacecraft has been switched on for the first time, a major milestone on the way to its 2028 launch. The ESA-JAXA mission will rendezvous with asteroid Apophis and study it during its exceptionally close flyby of Earth in April 2029. 🔗esa.int/Space_Safety/Planeta…
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We’re working with ClearSpace to develop Phoenix, a spacecraft designed to dock with satellites in geostationary orbit and help extend their operational life. Together, we’re advancing European capabilities to service satellites and extend their operational life. 🔗 esa.int/Applications/Connect… Credit: ClearSpace
Artificial rendering Phoenix approaching to dock

ALT Artificial rendering Phoenix approaching to dock

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We’re strengthening our cooperation with @MistralAI on artificial intelligence. Together, we’ll explore secure and trusted European AI solutions for Earth observation, engineering and the next generation of space activities. 🔗 esa.int/Newsroom/Press_Relea…
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We are providing an additional €2.7 million to support Rocket Factory Augsburg as it prepares for the first RFA One test flight from SaxaVord Spaceport in the UK. 🚀 Through our Boost! programme, we’re supporting further testing and launch infrastructure ahead of RFA One’s first flight. 🔗esa.int/Enabling_Support/Spa…
Nine engines on first Rocket Factory Augsburg launch vehicle

ALT Nine engines on first Rocket Factory Augsburg launch vehicle

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European Space Agency retweeted
Josef Aschbacher
@AschbacherJosef
Sep 21
Caught him! ⚡️ Apparently, even Pikachu is powerless to the pull of space #PokemonxESA esa.int/About_Us/Branding_an…
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We will be at the #IAC2026 in Antalya, Türkiye, from 5–9 October. ESA leadership, astronauts and experts will join the global space community throughout the week. Journalists planning to attend can now register for press accreditation. 🔗esa.int/Newsroom/Press_Relea…
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European Space Agency retweeted
ESA Science
@esascience
Sep 21
Juice is returning to Earth, again 🛰️ On 28 September the spacecraft will fly by Earth, coming within 8640 km of our planet. The closest approach will be over the Indian Ocean at 13:45 CEST (11:45 UTC) 👉 esa.int/Science_Exploration/… 1/5 @ESA_JUICE
Illustration showing Earth seen from space, the Juice spacecraft and its trajectory during the flyby.

ALT Illustration showing Earth seen from space, the Juice spacecraft and its trajectory during the flyby.

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ESA and ISRO are extending and broadening their cooperation for another five years, opening new opportunities to work together on space weather, exploration and space sustainability. 🇮🇳 🔗 esa.int/About_Us/Corporate_n…
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Pokémon is heading to space with ESA. 🚀⚡ For #WorldSpaceWeek2026, Pokémon and ESA are teaming up to inspire the next generation of explorers. A special Pikachu plush has even travelled to the International Space Station with ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot! The collaboration includes exhibitions at ESA sites and museums across Europe, exclusive ESA and Pokémon merchandise, and more. Join us for World Space Week from 4 October. More info 👉 esa.int/About_Us/Branding_an… #PokemonxESA (Credits: ESA/NASA S. Adenot)
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European Space Agency retweeted
Josef Aschbacher
@AschbacherJosef
Sep 21
🇮🇳As space activities expand beyond Earth orbit and new opportunities emerge in exploration, sustainability and advanced technologies, international cooperation remains essential. @ESA and @isro have built a trusted partnership spanning more than two decades, and this renewed agreement positions us to pursue even greater ambitions together while delivering tangible benefits for our citizens and economies. esa.int/About_Us/Corporate_n…

ESA and ISRO extend and broaden cooperation agreement

The European Space Agency (ESA) and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) have signed an exchange of letters extending their long-standing Cooperative Agreement for a further five years,...

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Thanks for an incredible #ESAOpenDays2026, Paris! Our Headquarters opened its doors this weekend to share a glimpse of ESA, our people and Europe’s future in space. Here are some highlights 👇
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📢 Journalists are invited to our ESTEC Open Day in Noordwijk, in the Netherlands, on 27 September. Meet ESA experts and astronauts, explore the technology behind Europe’s space missions and get a special look behind the scenes. 📝 Accreditation closes 22 September at 17:00 CEST. 🔗esa.int/Newsroom/Press_Relea…
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We awarded contracts to @iceye_global and @LDO_Space to study options for the future Earth Observation Governmental Service (EOGS). The studies will look at how the full system could be designed, from satellites and ground infrastructure to data processing and delivery to users. Part of ESA’s ERS-EO programme, this work will help prepare a future European Earth observation capability for security, preparedness and crisis response. Read more: esa.int/Applications/Observi…
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European Space Agency retweeted
Josef Aschbacher
@AschbacherJosef
Sep 17
ESA has launched the next phase of Low-LEO activities supporting the evolution of IRIS², bringing together nearly 80 companies across Europe to explore the services and capabilities that could shape the next generation of secure connectivity. Together with the @EU_Commission and industry, we are strengthening European resilience, competitiveness, innovation and strategic autonomy for the years ahead. esa.int/Applications/Connect…

ESA starts next phase of IRIS² evolution through Low-LEO activities

The European Space Agency (ESA) has signed 18 consolidation contracts bringing together nearly 80 companies to study new secure and resilient connectivity services. The contracts also cover associa...

esa.int
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Nearly 80 companies are joining the next evolution of IRIS² through our Low-LEO activities, exploring future secure connectivity services and mission concepts for Europe. 🇪🇺🛰️ 🔗 esa.int/Applications/Connect…
Group Picture beginning of the Consolidation Phase of ESA Low-LEO Pre-Operational and De-Risk Activities.

ALT Group Picture beginning of the Consolidation Phase of ESA Low-LEO Pre-Operational and De-Risk Activities.

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Our Celeste mission demonstrates 5G positioning signals from low Earth orbit. This first-of-its-kind in-orbit demonstration opens the door to future satellites providing both connectivity and positioning services. Read more: esa.int/Applications/Satelli…
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European Space Agency retweeted
ESA Science
@esascience
Sep 15
Webb reveals one of its largest images to date! 😲 This starry view shows the nearby star-forming region IC 348. Here, astronomers searched for brown dwarfs, objects which are less massive than the smallest stars. Read more 👉 esa.int/Science_Exploration/… @ESA_Webb
A star-forming region. It is blanketed in thick clouds of gas and dust, millions of kilometres across, that form swirling patterns. Bright stars are scattered throughout the clouds, with the densest cluster situated in the centre of the scene. Each is crowned with six long points created by the optics of the telescope’s mirrors. In the upper right, a couple of hidden stars blast out long, glowing jets of material. Credit: ESA/Webb, NASA, CSA, K. Luhman, C. Alves De Oliveira, M. Zamani (ESA/Webb)

ALT A star-forming region. It is blanketed in thick clouds of gas and dust, millions of kilometres across, that form swirling patterns. Bright stars are scattered throughout the clouds, with the densest cluster situated in the centre of the scene. Each is crowned with six long points created by the optics of the telescope’s mirrors. In the upper right, a couple of hidden stars blast out long, glowing jets of material. Credit: ESA/Webb, NASA, CSA, K. Luhman, C. Alves De Oliveira, M. Zamani (ESA/Webb)

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