Agence spatiale européenne
The European Space Agency (ESA) is an intergovernmental organization dedicated to space exploration, with 22 member states. Founded in 1975, ESA shapes Europe's space capabilities, ensuring investments in space deliver benefits to European citizens, working across the entire space sector. ESA develops and operates Earth observation, navigation, telecommunications, and astronomy satellites and sends probes to explore the solar system, partnering with agencies like NASA, JAXA and commercial partners like Airbus. Key programs include the development of launch vehicles like Ariane and Vega, the Galileo satellite navigation system, and missions like Rosetta and BepiColombo.
All verified mentions of this organization in source documents.
ESA Member State ministers are expected to meet in Italy in December for an interim Council meeting to define the European exploration roadmap for the coming years.
ESA will slow the pace of activities on Lunar View while retaining the key technologies needed for deep space exploration.
ESA will slow the pace of Lunar View activities while keeping the key technologies needed for deep space exploration.
ESA’s 23 Member States are aligning to step up in exploration.
Lunar Link could potentially become part of ESA’s Moonlight programme.
ESA is assessing whether Lunar Link could be used as a dedicated communications asset.
ESA’s Small Missions for Exploration program is designed to advance European capabilities for lunar and deep-space missions through targeted, lower-cost studies.
ESA has opened an investigation into the anomaly that interrupted the Space Rider test sequence.
The European Space Agency selected NUVIEW’s Moonraker mission for a Phase A study under ESA’s Small Missions for Exploration – Destination the Moon program.
ESA has delayed the Space Rider drop test until October because of an anomaly in a prior test campaign and limited test-site availability.
ESA completed two earlier Space Rider drop-test campaigns in August 2024 and June 2025 using a 3,000-kilogram mass simulator.
The Spanish Space Agency leads the Atlantic Constellation in collaboration with the European Space Agency.
GHGSat’s technology has been independently validated by NASA and the European Space Agency.
ESA is considering 12, 15, and 20 launches per year as part of its launch-cadence planning.
ESA’s Themis program is a reusable first-stage rocket effort intended as Europe’s answer to Falcon and Starship.
ESA wants to increase the Ariane 6 and Vega-C launch cadence from 7 or 8 launches per year to 15 or more by 2030.
ESA plans a first Themis demo flight for this year.
Ariane 6 is Europe’s heavy-lift launcher and a key element of ESA’s efforts to ensure autonomous access to space for Europe’s citizens.
ESA planned to conduct a final Space Rider drop test campaign in early 2026 using the Descent and Landing Test Model.
The mission requires approval from the Multilateral Crew Operations Panel and from NASA, ESA, Roscosmos, JAXA, and CSA as the five ISS partners.