Tag: ESA

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ESA has ensured the continuation of the Sentinel-1 Earth observation satellite series for Europe’s Copernicus environmental programme by ordering two more satellites.

The €400 million contract was signed today with Thales Alenia Space of Italy to build Sentinel-1C and -1D.

Replay: ESA astronaut Tim Peake, NASA astronaut Tim Kopra and commander Yuri Malenchenko heading to the International Space Station

ESA astronaut Tim Peake, NASA astronaut Tim Kopra and commander Yuri Malenchenko were launched into space at 11:03 GMT (12:03 CET)

Imagine being confronted with half a tonne or more of metal and composite structures, electronics boxes and solar panels – an unwanted satellite. And then being handed a blowtorch and told to melt it into vapour.

Space Science Image of the Week: Mighty black holes at the core of distant galaxies brighten up XMM-Newton’s view of the Lockman Hole

Rosetta’s OSIRIS camera team has launched a new website to showcase their recent images of Comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko.

Europe’s Vega light launcher is entering its commercial life boasting a flawless record and an impressive set of capabilities for a wide range of missions. 

The satellite age has revolutionised our understanding of Earth, giving us accurate information to help critical agreements on climate change such as at the current COP21 conference in Paris. Diminishing polar ice is one of the most visible indicators of change, but how much have we learnt over the last decades?

Our week through the lens:
7-11 December 2015

Discover more about the importance of ice sheets as an Essential Climate Variable to understand our changing world

Watch ESA astronaut Tim Peake’s voyage to the International Space Station, including launch, docking and hatch opening on 15 December

Earth observation image of the week: a Sentinel-2A image of Les Deux Alpes, also featured on the Earth from Space video programme