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European Space Agency (ESA)

Intergovernmental space exploration agency with 22 member states, established on May 30, 1975. The organization's 2023 budget was around 4.9 billion euros.

Skip next section Reports & Analysis

Reports & Analysis

Frankreich Trägerrakete Ariane 5 gestartet

ESA invests heavily in Guyana space port

ESA invests heavily in Guyana space port

The European Space Center invests hundreds of millions to diversify its activities and keep up with global competition.
BusinessDecember 23, 202403:28 min
Rocket after liftoff

Rockets from Spain — PLD Space blasts off

Rockets from Spain — PLD Space blasts off

Crazy, bold, overambitious? Spain's rocket builders are of those – and successful, too.
BusinessNovember 27, 202405:31 min
First images from Euclid mission

Euclid space telescope releases spectacular images of cosmos

Euclid space telescope releases spectacular images of cosmos

The Euclid mission operated by the European Space Agency aims to map out as much as a third of the sky in 3D.
ScienceOctober 21, 202401:31 min
Two astronauts in spacesuits, join hands, at the opening of the LUNA Analog Facility, September 25, 2024

How Europe's creating the moon on Earth

How Europe's creating the moon on Earth

Getting to the moon takes a lot of small steps, like Europe's new LUNA training facility. But it's not there yet.
ScienceOctober 5, 2024
An artists impression of an asteroid penetrating Earth's atmosphere

Don't worry (too much) about asteroids hitting Earth

Don't worry (too much) about asteroids hitting Earth

There are big and small asteroids flying around the planet all the time. Here's why you can probably relax.
ScienceOctober 4, 2024
ESA astronauts test the Moon hall at the new LUNA Analog facility in Cologne;

Mission Moon in Cologne: 'LUNA' training facility opens

Mission Moon in Cologne: 'LUNA' training facility opens

Astronauts can train for lunar missions in the new "LUNA" simulation facility in Cologne.
ScienceSeptember 26, 20247 images
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Skip next section In the spotlight

In the spotlight

Ariane 6 upper stage in development in Germany, 2021

Ariane 6: How to build a space rocket step-by-step

Ariane 6 is set to launch on July 9. DW explains why it took 10 years for Europe to develop its new rocket.
ScienceJuly 8, 2024
This image taken from video animation at Beijing Aerospace Control Center (BACC) on June 2, 2024 shows the lander-ascender combination of Chang'e-6 probe before landing on the far side of the moon

Chang'e 6: What's in store for China-EU space cooperation?

China’s Chang'e-6 lunar probe highlights the giant strides China is making in space exploration.
ScienceJune 3, 2024
The silhouette of a tree against the night sky, above it the Milky Way is visible

Gaia telescope reveals new insights into Milky Way's history

The space telescope Gaia has discovered two streams of stars that helped form our galaxy more than 12 billion years ago.
ScienceMarch 21, 2024
A mock illustration of oil canisters in space

Falling space debris: How high is the risk I'll get hit?

An International Space Station battery fell back to Earth and, luckily, splashed down harmlessly in the Atlantic.
ScienceMarch 8, 2024
Screengrab from the live feed of India's Chandrayaan-3 lander touching down softly on the moon

Why getting astronauts to the moon is tough in 2024

NASA's failed Artemis rocket launch is a good reminder that moon missions are as risky today as they were 60 years ago.
ScienceJanuary 10, 2024
A rocket flight above clouds towards space

Space exploration in 2024: 5 things to know

2024 is set to be an exciting year for space exploration. What's in store?
ScienceJanuary 1, 2024
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