European Space Agency
- Proba-3 becomes two: satellites separatedwww.esa.int Proba-3 becomes two: satellites separated
Last night a crucial step in the European Space Agency’s eclipse-making Proba-3 mission was completed: the two spacecraft, flying jointly since launch, have successfully separated. This leaves them ready to begin their cosmic dance in the world’s first-ever precision formation-flying mission.
> Last night a crucial step in the European Space Agency’s eclipse-making Proba-3 mission was completed: the two spacecraft, flying jointly since launch, have successfully separated.
- Last starlight for ground-breaking Gaiawww.esa.int Last starlight for ground-breaking Gaia
The European Space Agency’s Milky Way-mapper Gaia has completed the sky-scanning phase of its mission, racking up more than three trillion observations of about two billion stars and other objects over the last decade to revolutionise the view of our home galaxy and cosmic neighbourhood.
> Launched on 19 December 2013, Gaia’s fuel tank is now approaching empty – it uses about a dozen grams of cold gas per day to keep it spinning with pinpoint precision. But this is far from the end of the mission.
- XMM-Newton catches giant black hole’s X-ray oscillationswww.esa.int XMM-Newton catches giant black hole’s X-ray oscillations
The European Space Agency's XMM-Newton has detected rapidly fluctuating X-rays coming from the very edge of a supermassive black hole in the heart of a nearby galaxy. The results paint a fascinating picture that defies how we thought matter falls into such black holes, and points to a potential sour...
- The journey of #Gaia from has not only changed our understanding of the Milky Way, but also transformed those of us who worked on this extraordinary mission. It’s been an adventure that made us
The journey of #Gaia from @esa has not only changed our understanding of the Milky Way, but also transformed those of us who worked on this extraordinary mission. It’s been an adventure that made us question who we are and what we can achieve together. 🌌✨ #GaiaMission #SpaceExploration @esascience
A post for my @Vivaldi blog
- ESA budget dips slightly in 2025spacenews.com ESA budget dips slightly in 2025
ESA is starting 2025 with a budget slightly less than in 2024 as it finalizes a package of programs that will likely require major budget increases.
- Mercury's shadowy north pole revealed by M-CAM 1www.esa.int Mercury's shadowy north pole revealed by M-CAM 1
Mercury's shadowy north pole revealed by M-CAM 1
- Los Angeles struggles to contain wildfireswww.esa.int Los Angeles struggles to contain wildfires
Five wildfires are still currently burning (as of 10 January) in areas of north Los Angeles. This image, captured by the Copernicus Sentinel-3 mission on 9 January 2025, shows the Palisades and the Eaton fires, with smoke seen reaching Catalina Island and the Santa Barbara reserve.
- ESA to use launch competition to test georeturn reformsspacenews.com ESA to use launch competition to test georeturn reforms
An upcoming European launch competition will be an early test of efforts by ESA to modify its approach to georeturn policies.
- 500 kg, 2.5 meter #object from #space crashes into Mukuku village in Makueni county, #Kenya -
500 kg, 2.5 meter #object from #space crashes into Mukuku village in Makueni county, #Kenya -
It is claimed its sound could be heard from 200 km away.
Current identification says it is a #separation #ring from a #rocket
(and it does in fact resemble one) -
any experts here who recognize the make?
@space @planet4589 @esa @nasa (more links in first comment)
- European Space Agency's official store hacked to steal payment cards
cross-posted from: https://lemmy.zip/post/28751760
> > European Space Agency's official web shop was hacked as it started to load a piece of JavaScript code that generates a fake Stripe payment page at checkout.
- Europe's future in space: Vega cadence to increase, HyImpulse's hybrid rocketwww.nasaspaceflight.com Europe's future in space: Vega cadence to increase, HyImpulse's hybrid rocket - NASASpaceFlight.com
European companies in the space sector have been developing novel technology to find their unique…
- ESA and NASA deliver first joint picture of Greenland Ice Sheet meltingwww.esa.int ESA and NASA deliver first joint picture of Greenland Ice Sheet melting
Global warming is driving the rapid melting of the Greenland Ice Sheet, contributing to global sea level rise and disrupting weather patterns worldwide. Because of this, precise measurements of its changing shape are of critical importance for adapting to climate change.Now, scientists have delivere...
- ArianeGroup and Arianespace announce the departure of Stephane Israël, CEO of Arianespace, and the appointment of his successor David Cavaillolèsnewsroom.arianespace.com ArianeGroup and Arianespace announce the departure of Stephane Israël, CEO of Arianespace, and the appointment of his successor David Cavaillolès
Stéphane Israël, CEO of Arianespace since 2013 and member of the Executive Committee of ArianeGroup since 2017, will leave the Group on December 31, 2024 to pursue a new career opportunity in January 2025. David Cavaillolès is appointed CEO of Arianespace with effect from January 2025. ArianeGroup ...
- Europe signs contracts for IRIS² constellationspacenews.com Europe signs contracts for IRIS² constellation
The European Commission and ESA signed contracts with an industrial consortium Dec. 16 to develop a secure connectivity constellation with a total cost of 10.6 billion euros ($11.1 billion).
- Atmos Space Cargo appoints Garver as strategic adviserspacenews.com Atmos Space Cargo appoints Garver as strategic adviser
European startup Atmos Space Cargo, a developer of reentry vehicles, has brought on board a former NASA deputy administrator to help the company enter the U.S. market.
- Double win for Europe: Sentinel-1C and Vega-C take to the skieswww.esa.int Double win for Europe: Sentinel-1C and Vega-C take to the skies
The third Copernicus Sentinel-1 satellite was launched on a Vega-C rocket from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana. Sentinel-1C extends the legacy of its predecessors, delivering high-resolution radar imagery to monitor Earth’s changing environment, supporting a diverse range of applications and adv...
- Sentinel-1C Launch Thread (return to flight of Vega-C)
Welcome everyone! Time for the return to flight of Vega-C, following the Zefiro 40 upper stage failure on the previous launch two years ago.
| Scheduled for (UTC) | 2024-12-05 21:20 | | --- | --- | | Scheduled for (local) | 2024-12-05 18:50 (GFT) | | Launch site | ELV, Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana, France | | Launch vehicle | Vega C | | Payloads | Sentinel-1C | | Payload mass | 2,300.0 kg | | Mission success criteria | Successful launch and deployment into Sun-Synchronous Orbit |
Livestreams
| Stream | Link | | --- | --- | | Arianespace (English) | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gt3kWdS9EJo | | Arianespace (Français) | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XVo-c9E9LQ | | Arianespace (Italiana) | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9iZgcvBq3o | | ESA | https://www.youtube.com/@EuropeanSpaceAgency/streams | | Space Affairs | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBwUVT4NpU0 |
Stats
☑️ 1st Vega-C mission of 2024, 4th mission overall
☑️ 2nd Vega mission of 2024, 25th mission overall
☑️ 2nd Arianespace mission of 2024 (not counting Ariane 6 demo), 299th mission overall
Payload info
> Sentinel-1C will provide all-weather, day, and night radar imaging for land and ocean services.
> Originally intended to launch on the Russian Soyuz launch vehicle, due to geopolitical factors this is no longer an option. ESA instead opted to launch aboard Vega-C.
> The launch will be the return to flight for Vega-C, Europe’s lightweight, high-performance rocket – further securing Europe’s autonomy in space after the successful launch of Ariane 6 last summer. > > Once in orbit, Sentinel-1C will extend the Sentinel-1 mission’s legacy, delivering radar imagery to monitor Earth’s changing environment to support a diverse range of applications and scientific research.
Please feel free to post updates and questions in the comments!
- PLD Space secures loan for Miura 5 launch facilityspacenews.com PLD Space secures loan for Miura 5 launch facility
Spanish launch vehicle startup PLD Space has secured a loan to help fund development of the launch site of its Miura 5 rocket in French Guiana.
- Watch eclipse-making Proba-3 launch todaywww.esa.int Watch eclipse-making Proba-3 launch today
ESA’s eclipse-making precise formation-flying mission is nearly ready for liftoff! Proba-3 is scheduled for launch on a PSLV-XL rocket from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, India, on Wednesday, 4 December, at 11:38 CET (10:38 GMT, 16:08 local time).
- New EU space commissioner outlines prioritiesspacenews.com New EU space commissioner outlines priorities
The new European Union commissioner responsible for space says he will focus on improving European competitiveness and security in space.
- ESA, OpenCosmos sign contract for NanoMagSat missionspacenews.com ESA, OpenCosmos sign contract for NanoMagSat mission
European smallsat developer Open Cosmos has signed a contract with ESA for a trio of cubesats to study the Earth’s magnetic field and ionosphere.
- Vega C return to flight slips a dayspacenews.com Vega C return to flight slips a day
European officials say the Vega C rocket is ready for its return to flight next week despite a technical issue that will delay the launch of an Earth science satellite by at least a day.
- [Pour le plaisir des yeux ... 🤩 ] Avez-vous vu ces images de la surface visible du #Soleil - la #photosphère - récemment acquises par les instruments embarqués à bord de la sonde #SolarOrbiter de l'
[Pour le plaisir des yeux ... 🤩 ] Avez-vous vu ces images de la surface visible du #Soleil - la #photosphère - récemment acquises par les instruments embarqués à bord de la sonde #SolarOrbiter de l' @esa ?
Ces trois images témoignent de la #dynamique de notre Soleil - notamment, des mouvements de #plasma à sa surface, de l'#éjection de matière depuis les #tâches sombres le long des lignes de champ #magnétique.
- A former Orion manager has surprisingly credible plans to fly European astronautsarstechnica.com A former Orion manager has surprisingly credible plans to fly European astronauts
“I know it’s super hard, and I know it was crazy.”…
- European space companies seek more competitive government contractsspacenews.com European space companies seek more competitive government contracts
Companies and investors want European governments to take more risks and buy services from space startups, rather than awarding grants, to make the industry more competitive with American counterpa…
- ESA and JAXA sign statement on expanding deep space cooperationspacenews.com ESA and JAXA sign statement on expanding deep space cooperation
BREMEN, Germany — The European and Japanese space agencies have issued a joint statement on furthering cooperation on planetary defense, the moon, Mars and beyond. JAXA President Hiroshi Yamakawa a…
- Latitude signs multi-launch contract with Atmos Space Cargospacenews.com Latitude signs multi-launch contract with Atmos Space Cargo
French launch vehicle startup Latitude has signed a multi-launch contract with Atmos Space Cargo, a company developing commercial reentry vehicles.
> French launch vehicle startup Latitude has signed a multi-launch contract with Atmos Space Cargo, a company developing commercial reentry vehicles. > > In a deal announced at Space Tech Expo Europe here Nov. 19, Atmos will buy a minimum of five launches a year of Latitude’s Zephyr rocket between 2028 and 2032. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. > > Each launch will place a Phoenix spacecraft into very low Earth orbit, or VLEO. The spacecraft are designed to accommodate payloads for microgravity research in fields like pharmaceuticals and manufacturing, returning them to Earth.
- ESA awards funding to four European launch startupsspacenews.com ESA awards funding to four European launch startups
The European Space Agency is providing additional funding to four launch vehicle startups to help them with testing of their vehicles.
> ESA announced Nov. 19 that it is extending contracts with HyImpulse, Isar Aerospace, Orbex and Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA) worth a combined 44.22 million euros ($46.7 million) through its “Boost!” program to assist in integrated testing of the launch vehicles they are building.
> ESA did not disclose the breakout of the funding, but Isar Aerospace said it received 15 million euros in additional Boost! funding. The company said it will use the funding for testing for the first two flights of its Spectrum small launch vehicle. The company has previously stated it planned to conduct the first Spectrum launch before the end of the year but has not provided recent updates on launch preparations. > >Orbex said it received 5.6 million euros for integrated testing of its Orbex Prime launch vehicle it is developing for a first launch as soon as 2025. “This funding extension will enable us to make the vital next step in our journey as we move towards our inaugural launch of our microlauncher, Orbex Prime, next year,” said Phil Chambers, chief executive of Orbex, in a statement. > >HyImpulse said will use its 11.8 million euros for work on its SL1 orbital launch vehicle, building upon its SR75 sounding rocket. That includes work on a new hybrid engine, avionics and a third-stage propulsion system.
> RFA, which lost the first stage of its first RFA ONE rocket in August when it was destroyed during a static-fire test, will use 11.8 million euros to compete a new first stage and perform testing of it.
- Der nächste Teil der Online-Serie zu Jobs, in denen sich Menschen neuen Herausforderungen unserer Zeit stellen: der Manager für Weltraumschrott.
Der nächste Teil der Online-Serie zu Jobs, in denen sich Menschen neuen Herausforderungen unserer Zeit stellen: der Manager für Weltraumschrott.
Hier bei @techreview\_de lest ihr das Kurz-Portrait über Stijn Lemmens von der @esa . Er arbeitet daran, die weitere Vermüllung der Erdumlaufbahn zu bekämpfen.
\#Raumfahrt #Weltraum #Weltraumschrott
https://t3n.de/news/jobs-der-zukunft-weltraumschrott-management-1633742/
- Super heavy-lift, frequent flights to space for Europe: Protein study results
> In brief > > Last year, ESA commissioned a study to explore how Europe could develop a launcher capable of delivering 100 times more payloads to space than we do today.
- European Space Agency and Arianespace at a crossroads - NASASpaceFlight.comwww.nasaspaceflight.com European Space Agency and Arianespace at a crossroads - NASASpaceFlight.com
The European Space Agency (ESA) faces a crossroads as it works to prepare flights of…
> The Ariane 62 VA262 flight successfully made it to orbit but was unable to make its final burn due to an auxiliary propulsion unit failure that disabled the second stage’s restartable Vinci engine. Despite this failure to achieve a test objective, the next Ariane 6 flight is scheduled for no earlier than this December. > > Europe is finally starting to regain its independent access to space, but the downtime between Ariane 5’s retirement and Ariane 6’s first flight caused ESA to book several missions on Falcon 9 as the rocket was the only way the missions could achieve a timely launch. The Vega-C and Ariane 6 rockets also have no reusability features and their costs are not likely to approach Falcon 9 levels, making them less competitive in the world space launch marketplace. > > Europe’s space sector has started to respond to SpaceX’s domination of the world space launch market, although progress has been slow and uneven. Last month, ESA selected four companies — ArianeGroup (Arianespace’s parent company), Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA), Isar Aerospace, and The Exploration Company — to help develop reusable launch vehicle technology.
- Next Ariane 6 launch slips to early 2025spacenews.com Next Ariane 6 launch slips to early 2025
The second flight of Europe’s Ariane 6 rocket, and its first commercial mission, has slipped from December to no earlier than mid-February, Arianespace announced Nov. 8.
