From dew at dawn to a foggy mirror after a shower, condensation is part of our daily lives on Earth. In space, microgravity alters how heat flows through gases and liquids, a potential enemy for spacecraft electronics needing to cool down in extreme environments.
The congestion and pollution of Earth orbit is quickly getting worse. We need to be able to quantify how our behaviour impacts the orbital environment in the future. To this end, the European Space Agency (ESA) is adding a new health index to its yearly Space Environment Report that summarises in one number the status of our space environment over time.
Better in-flight streaming and video-calling might just become more accessible thanks to a project supported by the European Space Agency (ESA). Building upon the success of an experiment for a new type of antenna terminal together with ESA, Viasat – a global leader in satellite communications – now plans to commercialise its new in-flight connectivity solution called Viasat Amara.
Are you ready to take your first step into the space sector? The countdown has begun for the launch of the European Space Agency’s 2026 Student Internship Programme, and you could be part of it. Applications open the first week of November.
The new Copernicus Sentinel-4 mission has delivered its first images, highlighting concentrations of atmospheric nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide and ozone. Despite being preliminary, these images mark a major milestone in Europe’s ability to monitor air quality all the way from geostationary orbit, 36 000 kilometres above Earth.
The launch campaign of the next satellite to join the Copernicus Sentinel-1 mission is progressing on schedule for launch on Tuesday, 4 November, on board an Ariane 6 rocket.
Week in images: 13-17 October 2025
Discover our week through the lens
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The changing face of the Chilean glaciers in the Laguna San Rafael National Park is featured in these satellite images from 1987 and 2024.
The European Space Agency’s presence in Spain is set to be strengthened, while more than a dozen contracts with Spanish industry were signed on Thursday.
No communication or navigation, faulty electronics and collision risk. At ESA’s mission control in Darmstadt, teams faced a scenario unlike any before: a solar storm of extreme magnitude. Fortunately, this nightmare unfolded not in reality, but as part of the simulation campaign for Sentinel-1D, pushing the boundaries of spacecraft operations and space weather preparedness.
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English ESA Open Day 2025: An Unforgettable Journey Through Space Science at ESAC
On 4 October 2025, the European Space Agency opened the doors of ESAC – the European Space Astronomy Centre near Madrid – for an inspiring day of discovery. Visitors had the opportunity to explore ESA’s window to the Universe, where missions studying our Solar System, the Milky Way and the distant Universe are operated and analysed.
Throughout the day, guests met ESA scientists and engineers, learned about missions such as Gaia, XMM-Newton, and JUICE, and experienced hands-on activities that brought the wonders of astrophysics and planetary science to life. Interactive exhibits, talks, and guided tours showcased how ESA’s science missions are expanding our understanding of the cosmos.
More than two thousand participants of all ages enjoyed an unforgettable day filled with curiosity, innovation, and a shared passion for exploring the Universe.
Spanish Día de Puertas Abiertas de la ESA 2025: Un viaje inolvidable por la ciencia espacial en ESAC
El 4 de octubre de 2025, la Agencia Espacial Europea (ESA) abrió las puertas de ESAC – el Centro Europeo de Astronomía Espacial, cerca de Madrid – para una jornada inspiradora dedicada al descubrimiento. Los visitantes tuvieron la oportunidad única de adentrarse en el corazón del programa científico de la Agencia Espacial Europea, la ventana de la ESA al Universo, donde se operan y analizan misiones que estudian nuestro Sistema Solar, la Vía Láctea y el espacio profundo.
Charlas, exposiciones y visitas guiadas mostraron cómo las misiones científicas de la ESA amplían nuestro conocimiento del cosmos. A lo largo del día, los asistentes pudieron conocer a científicos e ingenieros de la ESA, descubrir misiones como Gaia, XMM-Newton y JUICE, y participar en actividades interactivas que acercaron la astrofísica y la ciencia planetaria al público de todas las edades.
Más de dos mil personas disfrutaron de una jornada inolvidable y llena de curiosidad, innovación y pasión por explorar el Universo.
