ESA Explores

Low Earth orbit is changing. With the International Space Station (ISS) approaching the later years of its life, new commercial destinations emerging and Europe investing in future transportation capabilities, a new chapter is beginning in orbit. In this episode of ESA Explores, we speak with ESA astronaut and Head of the Human Exploration Department Andreas Mogensen about why low Earth orbit still matters, what comes after the ISS and how Europe is preparing for its future in space. This is the first episode in a three-part series exploring Europe’s future in low Earth orbit, on the Moon and on Mars. This interview was recorded in August 2026. Keep exploring with ESA Explores!

Go behind the scenes at ESA’s European Astronaut Centre in Cologne, Germany, and discover how space experiments are prepared long before they reach orbit. Meet the ECOS team, as Deputy Manager Salvi Verma shares how they work with scientists, engineers and astronauts to turn ideas into real missions aboard the International Space Station. From early planning on the ground to supporting astronauts like ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot during her Epsilon mission, this is how space science becomes reality. This interview was recorded in March 2026. Keep exploring with ESA Explores!

Meet the voices astronauts hear in space. At ESA’s European Astronaut Centre in Cologne, Germany, the Eurocom team is the link between crew and ground, guiding astronauts like ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot through their daily work on the International Space Station. Join us as Eurocom expert Andreas Orth explains how complex operations are translated into clear, real-time communication and what it means to be the one voice connecting Earth and orbit. This interview was recorded in March 2026. Keep exploring with ESA Explores!

Step inside the Columbus Control Centre near Munich, in Germany, and discover what it takes to keep ESA's Columbus science laboratory running—24 hours a day, 365 days a year, as Columbus Flight Director Tristan Hermel takes us through how teams on the ground in mission control coordinate operations, support astronauts and work with international partners across the globe. See what life behind the consoles really looks like at a time when ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot is on board the Space Station for her Epsilon mission. This interview was recorded in January 2026. Keep exploring with ESA Explores!

Join us with ESA astronaut Matthias Maurer as we explore LUNA – our state-of-the-art Moon analogue facility located next to the European Astronaut Centre in Cologne, Germany. A joint project between ESA and DLR, LUNA is designed to simulate the lunar surface and will train astronauts and support a wide range of research and technology development for future missions to the Moon and beyond. This is the first episode of our ESA Explores podcast series diving into everything you want to know about the activities at ESA's European Astronaut Centre. Recorded in August 2024. Find out more about LUNA here: Home - Luna Analog Facility (luna-analog-facility.de) More about the Artemis programme: https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Human_and_Robotic_Exploration/Orion Glossary: DLR - Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (German Aerospace Center), EAC - European Astronaut Centre, EMU - Extravehicular Mobility Unit, EVA - Extravehicular Activity, NBF - Neutral Buoyancy Facility, NBL - Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory Host and audio editing by Laura Zurmühlen, featuring music by Denzel Lorge.