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.
In the past, ESA met its CSOC obligations through cargo transport provided by the Automated Transfer Vehicle and by supplying the European Service Module for NASA’s Orion spacecraft.
In May 2024, ESA announced Thales Alenia Space and The Exploration Company as recipients of Phase 1 development contracts for its LEO Cargo Return Service initiative.
ESA's call for proposals is intended to meet the agency’s obligations under the ISS Common System Operations Costs (CSOC) framework from 2026 until the ISS's decommissioning.
ESA's 'Vigil' mission to the L5 Lagrange point and KASA's planned solar exploration mission to the L4 point could potentially combine their data.
Under the CSOC framework, NASA, ESA, JAXA, and CSA share responsibility for the ongoing expenses of operating and maintaining the ISS.
The European Space Agency (ESA) and Korea Aerospace Research Agency (KASA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on October 1 to enhance cooperation in space development.
The three deep space antennas within ESA's Estrack network will provide access to KASA’s deep space antenna in South Korea.
Phase 2 recipients for the LEO Cargo Return Service initiative will be named in early 2026 following the ESA Ministerial Council meeting.
Pulse is expected to become the default coordination framework for future ESA missions.
The European Space Agency has awarded a contract to Avio for 24 months of development activities.
Katarzyna Cichecka is the Head of the System and Applications Engineering Division at ESA.
The launch of Sentinel-1D will be the 53rd mission for the European Space Agency (ESA).
The European Space Agency (ESA) inaugurated a new 35-meter diameter deep space antenna called 'New Norcia 3'.
CSIRO, Australia's national science agency, operates the ESA's ground station and antennas in New Norcia.
Distribution under the ESA Community License ensures broad availability across the European space ecosystem without commercial barriers.
The Pulse emblem depicts a stylised satellite transmitting the binary code for 'ESA' as it orbits Earth.
The first ESA deep space antenna is also located in Australia, the second in Cerebro, Spain, and the third in Malargüe, Argentina.
France’s ESA astronaut will perform a range of French experiments prepared by CNES.
The Canada-European Space Agency (ESA) Cooperation Agreement has lasted nearly 50 years.
CNES can choose experiments as it sees fit, either nationally or in partnership with agencies like ESA or NASA.