Euopean Space Agency Space News

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• Week in images: 20-24 April 2026

  

  Week in images: 20-24 April 2026

  Discover our week through the lens

• Braving the Arctic for upcoming polar-focused satellites

  

  As sea ice continues to succumb to the climate crisis, measuring its decline with precision has never been more urgent. To meet this challenge, the European Space Agency is developing three new Copernicus satellites, each employing distinct but complementary techniques to monitor this fragile component of the Earth system.

  To ensure the data from these new satellites are razor-sharp, an international team of hardy scientists is now out on the Arctic sea ice braving the cold and flying above to collect critical in situ measurements.

• Earth from Space: Cloud patterns over the Canary Islands

  Image: This Copernicus Sentinel-2 image highlights a distinctive cloud formation north of the Canary Islands of Tenerife and La Gomera.

• Smile set to launch on 19 May

  

  The European-Chinese Smile mission is due to launch on Tuesday 19 May 2026, at 05:52 CEST / 04:52 BST / 00:52 local time on a European Vega-C rocket.

• A Saturday‑night dinner onboard the International Space Station

  Video: 00:00:46

  After an intense few weeks the crew took time to celebrate together with a shared meal proposed by ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot.

  It’s a long‑standing tradition: each ESA astronaut works with a chef to create a few special dishes reserved for rare occasions — known as “bonus food”. Sophie’s bonus food was created by multi‑Michelin‑starred chef Anne‑Sophie Pic, offering the crew a taste of French gastronomy far from Earth.

  Bonus food, tailored to specific crew members, makes up around one tenth of an astronaut’s menu. Astronauts say it adds variety to their meals, supports mental well‑being, and helps strengthen bonds among the crew in orbit.

• Plato aces space-like tests

  

  The European Space Agency Plato mission has successfully completed a series of tough tests under space‑like conditions. With this accomplishment, the spacecraft is on track to lift off in early 2027 and begin its search for terrestrial planets.

• Space Rider drop model ready to glide

  

• ESA School Days 2026: A week of space and science

  Video: 00:03:28

  English

  From 13 to 17 April, ESA’s Centre for Earth Observation in Frascati, ESRIN, hosted the 2026 edition of ESA School Days, welcoming students from across Italy for a week dedicated to space and science.

  Throughout the week, participants took part in presentations, interactive laboratories and hands-on activities, exploring how ESA studies our planet and the wider Universe. Activities included: sessions dedicated to European launchers, Ariane 6 and Vega C, as well as the future reusable vehicle Space Rider, model rocket launch demonstrations, as well as meteorite and asteroid workshops and guided visits to the Earth Observation Multimedia Centre. This initiative aimed to inspire younger generations by raising awareness of scientific research, environmental protection and climate change, while fostering curiosity, teamwork and interest in STEM disciplines. The event was organised with contributions from ESERO Italia and the Italian Space Agency.

  Italiano

  Dal 13 al 17 aprile, ESRIN, il Centro dell’Agenzia Spaziale Europea dedicato ai Programmi di Osservazione della Terra a Frascati, ha ospitato l’edizione 2026 degli ESA School Days, accogliendo studenti provenienti da tutta Italia per una settimana dedicata allo spazio e alla scienza.

  Durante la settimana, i partecipanti hanno preso parte a presentazioni, laboratori interattivi ed esperienze pratiche, esplorando come l’ESA studia la Terra e indaga l’Universo. Tra le attività: sessioni dedicate ai lanciatori europei, Ariane 6 e Vega C ed al futuro veicolo riutilizzabile Space Rider, dimostrazioni di lancio di razzi-modello, laboratori su meteoriti e asteroidi e visite guidate al Centro Multimediale di Osservazione della Terra. L’iniziativa ha avuto l’obiettivo di ispirare le giovani generazioni, sensibilizzandole su temi come la ricerca scientifica, la tutela dell’ambiente e il cambiamento climatico, promuovendo curiosità, lavoro di squadra e interesse verso le discipline STEM. L’evento è stato realizzato con il contributo di ESERO Italia e dell’Agenzia Spaziale Italiana.