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.
The European Space Agency selected its first reserve astronaut corps consisting of 12 members.
The project astronaut designation allows a reserve astronaut to serve temporarily as a member of the European Space Agency’s astronaut corps before returning to the reserve ranks.
The CHaracterising ExOPlanet Satellite (Cheops) of the European Space Agency detected structural anomalies in the planetary system orbiting the star LHS 1903.
The European Space Agency manages development of the Ariane 6 launcher and coordinates an industrial network across 13 European nations.
ESA's operational rocket fleet includes Vega-C, Ariane 62, and Ariane 64, enabling transport of small and large payloads to near and distant orbits.
The European Space Agency collaborates with an industrial network across 13 European countries for the development of Ariane 6 led by prime contractor ArianeGroup.
Sophie Adenot will test an ESA system that uses artificial intelligence and augmented reality to enable astronauts to perform their own medical ultrasounds.
Crew-12 will carry NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev to the International Space Station.
ArianeGroup was entrusted by the European Space Agency to design and integrate the Ariane 6 launcher.
The European Space Agency certified the P160C boosters for flight in December 2025.
The ESA contract strengthens the consortium's position in the development of advanced spectrum-monitoring technologies and expands solutions aimed at protecting orbital assets and enabling future specialized constellations.
During the 28 January meeting the ESA approved an Authorization to Proceed of €70 million to allow the selected prime contractor to begin Phase B2 (advanced preliminary design and system definition) for Aeolus-2.
The Aeolus-2 mission is being developed under Eumetsat’s European Polar System program in partnership with the ESA to provide high-resolution wind measurements for weather forecasting.
The ESA is preparing to close an initial award of €70 million to begin the next development phase of Aeolus-2.
The European Space Agency concluded the Ramses mission Critical Design Review in record time, confirming the design meets technical, scientific, and programmatic requirements.
The project is funded by the European Space Agency under the FutureEO program.
The European Space Agency awarded OHB Italia a €81.2 million contract on 10 February 2026 for the construction, assembly, and testing phase of the Ramses mission.
A consortium led by Alén Space that includes GMV (Spain and Poland), WideNorth, and the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid has been selected by the European Space Agency for a space-based radio-frequency interference detection and monitoring project.
The European Space Agency awarded Tyvak International a €8.2 million follow-on contract on 10 February 2026 to complete construction and testing of its Ramses CubeSat.
Maurizio Cheli became an astronaut with the European Space Agency after a career as a pilot and test pilot in the Italian Air Force.