European Space Agency

Elevating the future of Europe through space.

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[ESA Space Transport @ESA_transport]

Hot stuff 🔥

The Prometheus reusable rocket engine completed several hot-fire tests at the recently upgraded P5 test bench in Lampoldshausen, Germany.

This round of tests included a new combustion chamber made using cold gas spray, an additive manufacturing process.

📸 @ArianeGroup @DLR_de @DLR_en @esa

[European Space Agency @esa]

Closing in on Didymos. ☄️

Our planetary defence mission Hera has captured its first close-up of the binary asteroid system, 60 km away, as it prepares to investigate the aftermath of DART’s historic impact with Dimorphos.

Detailed images of both asteroids are coming on 25 November.

Read more: https://t.co/Q6SXvOgsmd

[Josef Aschbacher @AschbacherJosef]

🇨🇦Congratulations to Alexander MacDonald on his appointment as the new President of @csa_asc.

Canada is not just a key international partner, but a unique Cooperating State within the @esa family. At a time when space matters more than ever, our strong transatlantic bond and shared commitments strengthen our capabilities and what we can achieve together.

Looking forward to welcoming Alexander to the Intermediate Ministerial Meeting in Rome this December and working closely together!

[European Space Agency @esa]

Mars may not be geologically dead after all. 🔴

Our ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter has detected hydrogen chloride above volcanic fissures in the Alba Mons region, which scientists suggest could be linked to dormant volcanic activity beneath the surface.

Read more: https://t.co/VEJRtcff8V

[Human Spaceflight @esaspaceflight]

🔴 40 000+ Mars orbits
🌅 30 000+ sunrises and sunsets
📊 600+ gigabytes, more than all other Mars spacecraft combined

Meet the #ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter, @esa's largest and most sophisticated martian explorer.

[ESA's Hera mission @ESA_Hera]

ESA's Hera spacecraft is nearing its destination; here are🔟asteroid mysteries that Hera will explore, including...
🤔Why was asteroid Dimorphos so strongly deflected by NASA's DART impact?
🤔Where did all its dust come from?
🤔What lies beneath its surface?
😲(#5 may surprise you!)
https://t.co/oVKOKokrgW

[European Space Agency @esa]

Over 23 000 visitors joined us for ESA Open Days 2026, exploring our sites, meeting the people behind our missions and discovering Europe’s space activities 🚀

Relive some of the highlights, and stay tuned to join us next year: https://t.co/HWn8aa0uFl

[European Space Agency @esa]

October was a busy month! Here’s your monthly roundup from the European Space Agency.

🔗 https://t.co/aVY53qQI8E

[European Space Agency @esa]

Meet our Space Safety fleet.

These missions help us monitor solar storms and asteroids, deal with space debris, and keep Earth and space safer for everyone.

🔗 https://t.co/o2jAeFAMrH

[EUMETSAT @eumetsat]

#Copernicus Sentinel-6B enters operational service today! 🛰️

Ensuring that a global sea level record begun over 30 years ago will continue into the 2030s, it will help:

🌊 Track sea-level rise
🌊 Predict storm & hurricanes
🌊 Protect coastal communities

https://t.co/D22Rs4NTlk

[Human Spaceflight @esaspaceflight]

🌕 From laser ranging and lunar rovers 🤖 to cargo landers and Artemis missions 🚀, we’ve explored how Europe is helping shape the future of Moon exploration.
Missed anything from our Moon month? Catch up with our wrap-up 👇 https://t.co/HMYbmi06n1

[Human Spaceflight @esaspaceflight]

@esa @NASAArtemis 🚀 @esa's fourth European Service Module will power Orion's journey.
🇪🇺 Built across Europe and assembled by @AirbusSpace in Bremen 🇩🇪, the module arrived at @NASAKSC in late 2025, where it is undergoing integration and testing ahead of a historic launch 🌕.

[Human Spaceflight @esaspaceflight]

🌕👣 The next Moon landing is getting closer.
Planned for 2028, Artemis IV is the first mission to return humans to the lunar surface since Apollo 17 left the Moon in 1972.

📸: Apollo 17, Artemis II

[European Space Agency @esa]

We’ve signed three new contracts in Norway to strengthen the resilience of satellite navigation. 🛰️🇳🇴

The projects focus on GNSS interference testing, maritime navigation and drones operating in challenging environments.

Read more: https://t.co/ul22HvYZAr

[European Space Agency @esa]

Our Hera spacecraft can now see Didymos and Dimorphos as two separate asteroids!

Coming closer, it will study the effects of NASA's 2022 DART impact and help advance asteroid deflection as a planetary defence technique.

The first detailed images of Dimorphos are expected on 25 November.

Follow Hera’s journey with the Hera Space Companion ���� https://t.co/GTkW1fdiMY

🔗https://t.co/Urx7pyL6Fw

[European Space Agency @esa]

New Galileo Second Generation satellites are set to join the fleet, bringing the total to 16.

These additional satellites will support the long-term continuity and resilience of Europe’s satellite navigation services.

🔗https://t.co/8qxcdz97qI

[European Space Agency @esa]

🎙️ Journalists are invited to meet astronaut Sophie Adenot at our Headquarters in Paris on 2 November at 11:30 CET, for her first in-person press conference since returning from the International Space Station.

Accreditation is open until 29 October: https://t.co/xjHOCuipf4

[Human Spaceflight @esaspaceflight]

First European woman on the International Space Station 👩‍🚀✨

25 years ago, in October 2001, Claudie Haigneré spent eight days aboard the @Space_Station, conducting scientific research and helping write a new chapter in European spaceflight history.

@esa @ESA_fr

[European Space Agency @esa]

Europe is building its own capability to reach, land and operate on the Moon.

Bringing together expertise from across Europe, Argonaut will deliver cargo and technology to the lunar surface, starting with its first mission from 2030.

🔗https://t.co/ldvWfeeCY6