ESA Observing the Earth

On 7–8 July 2026, leading Earth observation scientists and experts are gathering in Tallinn, Estonia, for the Earth Explorer 12 User Consultation Meeting – a key milestone in the selection of ESA's next Earth Explorer mission.

Watch live: Earth Explorer 12 User Consultation Meeting on ESA WebTV TWO

Press Release N° 33–2026

Media representatives are invited to express their interest in attending the media programme for the launch of the Meteosat Third Generation (MTG) Imager weather satellite, MTG-I2, at Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana.

Building on the remarkable success of the Earth Explorer Aeolus wind mission, the European Space Agency has given Airbus Defence and Space in the UK the authorisation to proceed to begin the development of Aeolus’ successor, Aeolus-2 – which is set to be built to enhance operational weather forecasts.

After 12 years of exceptional service, the pioneering Copernicus Sentinel-1A radar satellite has reached the end of its mission. Originally designed for a seven-year life in orbit, the satellite has exceeded expectations, not only by its longevity, but through the extraordinary impact of its data, which have deepened our understanding of our changing planet and supported a wide range of operational services and laid the foundation for scientific discoveries.

Europe is facing an intense heatwave, with record temperatures and several cities under red alert. On 23 June, France recorded its hottest June day ever.

This image was captured the same day by the Copernicus Sentinel-3 satellite, which measures land surface temperature from space.

Unlike air temperature, land surface temperature shows how hot the ground itself becomes, often much higher as rock and asphalt absorb heat throughout the day.

Sentinel-3 uses thermal sensors to monitor Earth’s land, oceans, ice, and atmosphere, supporting everything from weather response to long-term climate monitoring.

View image: Europe feels the heat beneath our feet

Learn more about the Sentinel-3 mission

The European Space Agency’s EarthCARE satellite was developed to make a unique set of simultaneous measurements that shed new light on the role that clouds and aerosols play in regulating Earth’s climate.

Now, in a remarkable example of a research mission delivering direct practical benefits, global observations from the satellite’s cloud profiling radar are being used operationally by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts to improve daily weather forecasts – this landmark achievement marks the first time that cloud radar data from space have been assimilated into a global weather forecasting system.

The countdown is on for scientists, researchers and Earth observation experts eager to help shape the future of the European Space Agency’s Earth Explorer satellite series. Registration is closing soon for the Earth Explorer 12 User Consultation Meeting.

This all-important event offers the opportunity to be part of the discussion on which of four pioneering candidate missions should advance to the next stage of development.

Press Release N° 20–2026

The European Space Agency (ESA) and the European Defence Agency (EDA) have signed an Implementing Arrangement to jointly identify strategic and technological gaps in Europe’s Earth observation capabilities and develop a long-term roadmap in support of security and defence.

Press Release N° 13–2026

Journalists are invited to a one-off opportunity to see three ESA-built satellites in their final preparations before liftoff. 

The Minoans were a sophisticated Bronze Age civilization (c. 3100–1100 BC) on Crete and widely regarded as Europe’s earliest advanced culture. They are best known for their impressive palace complexes, most notably Knossos, and for their far-reaching maritime trade, which most likely relied on celestial navigation and a detailed understanding of the constellations. The Minoans recognised a hidden order in the natural world: a force to be respected, yet also harnessed for human benefit. Their era, the Age of Bronze, marked a pivotal moment in the development of human society.

Today, our own relationship with nature must find a new equilibrium. The need to monitor environmental change has never been more urgent, and satellites provide the most powerful means of doing so. This video draws a line from the world of the Minoans to the satellites orbiting above us today, highlighting the vital role of metrology – the science of measurement – in ensuring that the data they provide are accurate and trustworthy. And it turns out that Crete is an ideal location for unique reference network that helps carry out this important task â€“ and particularly important for the Copernicus Sentinel-6 mission. 

The Sentinel-6 satellites carry the latest radar altimetry technology to further extend the sea-surface height record that began in the early 1990s. These measurements help scientists understand sea-level rise – crucial information for shaping climate policy and protecting the millions of people living in coastal areas around the world.

The first Sentinel-6 satellite was launched in November 2020, followed by Sentinel-6B in November 2025.