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ESA Top News

The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe’s gateway to space. Its mission is to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.
ESA Top News
ESA Top News

ESA Top News

January 21st, 2026 07:54:00 EST -0500 εpsilon
εpsilon website

εpsilon

February 10th, 2026 10:00:00 EST -0500 Hubble captures light show around rapidly dying star
The Egg Nebula Image: The Egg Nebula
February 10th, 2026 10:00:00 EST -0500 ESA awards contracts for Ramses mission to Apophis

On 10 February 2026, the European Space Agency (ESA) signed a contract with OHB Italia for the development of the Rapid Apophis Mission for Space Safety (Ramses). Launching in 2028, Ramses will rendezvous with the asteroid Apophis before its rare close encounter with Earth. The mission will provide unique insight into the physical properties and behaviour of asteroids, and strengthen international collaboration and European capabilities in planetary defence.

February 10th, 2026 07:45:00 EST -0500 Intense rainfall brings floods across Iberian Peninsula
Flooding around the Tejo River, Portugal, by Sentinel-1

Satellite data have captured the intensity of rainfall over the Iberian Peninsula during three severe winter storms, and the extent of flooding that followed around the Tejo River and basin in Portugal.

February 10th, 2026 05:10:00 EST -0500 Watch live: first launch of Ariane 6 with four boosters
Artist's view of Ariane 6 with four boosters over Earth
February 10th, 2026 02:00:00 EST -0500 Watch live: Crew-12 launch and docking (updated)

Update — 10 February 2026: NASA and SpaceX have announced they are now planning to launch the Crew-12 mission to the International Space Station no earlier than 10:15 GMT / 11:15 CET (05:15 ET) on Friday 13 February, due to forecast weather conditions along the flight path of the Dragon spacecraft. All the dates and times have been updated in the article.

February 9th, 2026 10:00:00 EST -0500 Ariane 6: more boosters, more power
Video: 00:01:21

For its most powerful flight yet, Ariane 6 lifts off for the first time with four boosters.

Designed for versatility, Ariane 6 can adapt to each mission: flying with two boosters for lighter payloads, or four boosters when more power is needed.

In its four-booster configuration, Ariane 6 can carry larger and heavier spacecraft into orbit, enabling some of Europe’s most ambitious missions — such as Argonaut.

February 6th, 2026 09:10:00 EST -0500 Week in images: 02-06 February 2026
Overhead perspective of Flaugergues Crater

Week in images: 02-06 February 2026

Discover our week through the lens

February 6th, 2026 05:00:00 EST -0500 Sophie Adenot ready for first space mission
Video: 00:03:58

ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot is preparing to launch to the International Space Station for her first space mission: Îµpsilon.

After years of intensive training — from emergency procedures to spacewalk simulations — the countdown has begun. Flying alongside astronauts from NASA and Roscosmos, Sophie will join an international crew living and working together in space.

Aboard the ISS, Sophie will live and work in microgravity, conducting scientific research and performing a range of European- and French-led experiments that advance knowledge for life on Earth and in space.

Join us live on YouTube to watch the launch of Sophie Adenot.