Category News

In the quest to push the boundaries of spacecraft autonomy, researchers at ESA and TU Delft have turned to an unconventional testing ground: drone racing. By unleashing neural network-controlled drones in a high-speed, unpredictable environment, they aim to evaluate the performance of these cutting-edge AI systems before deploying them in space missions. The key challenge […]

Using Webb’s Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI), the team investigated the contents of ISO-Chal 147’s disk by observing it in the mid-infrared and collecting spectral data. From this data, they constructed an emission spectrum of light that highlighted the elements and compounds present within the disk. Webb found the disk to contain the richest hydrocarbon chemistry to […]

After a week filled with weather delays and an uncommon T-0 abort after Falcon 9 had already ignited its engines, SpaceX looks to get back on its feet with the launch of Astra 1P/SES-24. This mission has already been delayed by one day due to bad weather at Space Launch Complex 40 at the Cape […]

The EU-ESA Space Council, a pivotal event that shapes the trajectory of European space endeavors, has recently concluded. This gathering of visionary minds and decision-makers has set forth a series of groundbreaking initiatives that promise to propel Europe’s ambitions in the cosmic frontier to unprecedented heights. At the forefront of these developments lies the future […]

GRBBeta is designed to detect and study gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) – immensely energetic explosions observed in distant galaxies. These are the brightest and most extreme explosive events in the Universe. A typical GRB releases as much energy in a few seconds as the Sun will in its entire 10-billion-year lifetime. GRBs are thought to be […]

ESA’s Hera asteroid mission and its two CubeSats recently conducted a remarkable test, simulating their communication and interaction as if they were in the depths of space. This rehearsal took place within the foam pyramid-lined walls of the Agency’s Maxwell test chamber in the Netherlands, where the trio seamlessly shared data and ranging information. Simultaneously, […]

Launch day expectations were high, as SpaceX hoped for a soft splashdown of Booster 11 and survival of peak reentry heat for Ship 29. The tank farm’s road closure and chill down went as planned, and the weather was nearly perfect for a launch. Ship 29 and Booster 11 lifted off at 7:50 a.m. Central […]

SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rockets have been maintaining a remarkable launch cadence, showcasing the company’s ability to rapidly prepare and launch vehicles from its facilities. This week alone, SpaceX aimed to conduct four launches from the same pad, Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, within a span of just […]

We are excited to launch our website user survey to gather valuable feedback from you, our website visitors. This survey aims to help us understand your needs, preferences, and expectations, ensuring that the ESA website provides an exceptional user experience. Participation in the survey is open to all website users, and it will take approximately […]

China’s sixth uncrewed lunar exploration mission, Chang’e 6, landed on and sampled the far side of the Moon. The mission was launched on a Chang Zheng 5 rocket from the Wenchang Space Launch Site on May 3 at 09:27 UTC. The Chang’e 6 vehicle consists of an orbiter, lander, ascent vehicle, and sample return capsule. […]