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 Director General Josef Aschbacher presented the agency's plan for 2026 during a press conference at ESA HQ in Paris.
In the second quarter of 2026, the ESA will formally adopt the Arrakihs project, its first scientific mission led by Spain.
A new test of the Space Ride, ESA's first fully reusable space transport system, is scheduled for the first quarter of 2026.
ESA will launch the Artemis II mission in collaboration with NASA.
The ESA is developing infrastructure, modules, and technological capabilities to support crewed and robotic lunar missions.
The Smile mission, a collaboration between the ESA and the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), aims to better understand the interaction between the Sun and the Earth.
The ESA's 2026 plans highlight a year of strong strategic concentration on access to space, exploration, and science.
The European Space Agency (ESA) plans to launch 65 new missions and satellites in 2026, including 48 in Earth observation and 17 in robotic and human exploration.
GomSpace is a key partner in the ESA RAMSES mission, which targets the asteroid 99942 Apophis.
The Sentinel-3C satellite will be included in the Earth observation missions planned by the ESA.
The ESA's 2026 plans include new Galileo launches to strengthen the European satellite navigation system.
The ESA is involved in direct contributions to humanity's return to the Moon as part of international exploration programs.
The ESA's 2026 plans include the first launch of the Ariane 64 rocket.
Josef Aschbacher is the Director General of the European Space Agency.
Viasat and the European Space Agency signed a partnership in late 2024 to design a LEO constellation.
ESA has previously met its CSOC obligations through cargo transportation services using the Automated Transfer Vehicle and service modules for NASA’s Orion spacecraft.
ESA began work on the Themis project in 2019 to mature reusable rocket technology for future European launch systems.
In May 2024, ESA awarded Phase 1 contracts to The Exploration Company and Thales Alenia Space Italia for the LEO Cargo Return Services initiative.
Airbus is the prime industrial contractor for ESM-4 on behalf of the European Space Agency (ESA).
ESA has not provided further updates on the progress toward the first flight of Themis since the transfer to the launch pad.