Herschel will share its launch with a partner, the Planck microwave space observatory, as it begins its journey to its destination in space. The two satellites are now undergoing their final tests before launch
With a growing global population ensuring food security in the world's poorer countries is a major concern – one that is being eased the help of data from Earth observation satellites such as Envisat
On 25 and 26 November in The Hague, Ministers in charge of space activities within the now 18 ESA Member States and Canada meet to define the role of space in delivering Europe's global objectives
Since the very first satellites carrying scientific instruments were launched, our understanding of the cosmos has improved. The Sun is studied to the core and, beyond our star, the Universe is becoming less obscure
The successful docking of the European Columbus module and the launch of the Automated Transfer Vehicle have opened a new era for Europe’s presence in space with the aspiration to consolidate its independence
ESA's Sentinels are Earth monitoring satellites forming part of the Space Component of GMES. Their data will help scientists and politicians manage our environment and its natural resources in the years to come
A new satellite communication system will revolutionise the way Europe gets its information from space
As a part of ESA's Future Launchers Preparatory Programme, the IXV project is designing and building a vehicle to test a range of systems and technologies for atmospheric re-entry
Belgian ESA astronaut Frank De Winne prepares for his next mission to the ISS, due to launch in 2009. Dutch ESA astronaut André Kuipers will be his backup
On the island of Sriharikota, 150 kilometres north of Chennai, India has based its launch centre SHAR, the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, named after the research scientist and former president of the ISRO, the Indian Space Research Organisation
With its lunar mission, Chandrayaan-1, India is about to enter a new stage in the exploration of space
It's a technological feat, but the Indian lunar mission Chandrayaan-1 is almost ready to launch. It will differ from earlier lunar missions as it promises to return a complete chemical and mineral mapping of the Moon
Since July 2008 the GOCE Earth Explorer satellite has been at the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in northern Russia
Mission summary and future scenarios for ESA’s Jules Verne Automated Transfer Vehicle ATV
On Friday, 5 September 2008, ESA's Rosetta spacecraft will meet with Asteroid Steins, passing by at 800 km at 20:58 CEST, at a distance of 360 million km from Earth
ESA's European Space Operations Centre has been meticulously preparing for Rosetta's rendezvous with asteroid Steins. Scientists expect much from this close encounter, providing insights into how the solar system and its planets were formed
GOCE, ESA's Gravity field and steady–state Ocean Circulation Explorer is due for launch in September 2008 from Russia. Data from this mission will improve our understanding of ocean circulation, sea-level change and Earth-interior processes
Looking down from space at the blue planet Earth, you can see plenty of water. This water is believed to have originated from comets and asteroids that hit the surface soon after the planet formed
Hubble has been serviced and upgraded four times and the fifth and final tune-up is scheduled for October 2008.
The European Space Agency has just closed its public recruitment drive to find the European astronauts of the future