European Space Agency
Coverage of European Space Agency in the Nexus archive.
- One Tech Tip: Using your smartphone to capture the August total solar eclipse over Europe
A total solar eclipse is set to sweep over parts of Europe, expected to boost tourism in countries like Spain and Portugal. While capturing photos presents unique challenges due to drastic lighting changes, smartphone shooters can improve their shots by finding high points with clear views toward the western horizon. Viewers are advised to consult forecast apps for clearer skies.
- SpaceX rocket debris believed to have crashed into the moon
NASA scientists believe a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket debris crashed into the moon at over 5,000 mph, creating an explosion and debris field. The incident, attributed to solar activity and gravity, highlights growing concerns about space junk, with over 170 million tracked debris pieces orbiting Earth. Former NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe emphasized the need for a global strategy to address uncontrolled orbital debris.
- SpaceX rocket crashes into moon at 8700 kilometres per hour
A discarded SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket upper stage crashed into the moon at 8700 km/h, creating a crater near the Einstein crater. The rocket, which launched in January 2023 carrying the Hakuto-R spacecraft from ispace, was uncontrollably on a collision course. Astronomers and lunar orbiters are observing the impact site for scientific data.
- August’s total solar eclipse will sweep over Spain, Iceland and Greenland
A total solar eclipse will occur on August 12, sweeping over mainland Spain, Greenland, and Iceland, with totality lasting up to 2 minutes and 18 seconds. The event will coincide with a six-planet parade and the peak of the Perseid meteor shower, while a partial eclipse will be visible in regions like Alaska, Canada, and Europe. A longer 6.5-minute eclipse is expected next year.
- August’s total solar eclipse will sweep over Spain, Iceland and Greenland
A total solar eclipse will occur on August 12, 2026, sweeping over Spain, Iceland, and Greenland, with totality lasting up to 2 minutes and 18 seconds. The event will be followed by a longer eclipse next year and coincides with a six-planet parade and the Perseid meteor shower.
- August’s total solar eclipse will sweep over Spain, Iceland and Greenland
A total solar eclipse will sweep over Spain, Iceland, and Greenland on August 12, with a maximum totality of 2 minutes and 18 seconds. The event coincides with a six-planet parade and the Perseid meteor shower, and will be partially visible across Alaska, Canada, Europe, and West Africa. The European Space Agency, NASA, and the Virtual Telescope Project will host live coverage.
- August’s total solar eclipse will sweep over Spain, Iceland and Greenland
A total solar eclipse will occur on August 12, sweeping over Spain, Iceland, and Greenland, with a longer eclipse expected next year. The event coincides with a six-planet parade and the peak of the Perseid meteor shower. Daytime darkness will last up to two minutes and 18 seconds, with partial coverage visible in regions like Alaska, Canada, and Europe.
- August’s total solar eclipse will sweep over Spain, Iceland and Greenland
A total solar eclipse will occur on August 12, sweeping over Spain, Iceland, and Greenland, with totality lasting up to 2 minutes and 18 seconds. The event coincides with a six-planet parade and the peak of the Perseid meteor shower, while partial eclipses will be visible in regions like Alaska, Canada, and Europe. The European Space Agency, NASA, and other organizations will host live coverage and public events.
- Tectonic activity on Venus hints at how planet was formed
Scientists from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich discovered active tectonic activity on Venus, including recent rift valleys and volcanoes, through 3D modeling and NASA Magellan probe data. The findings suggest Venus remains geologically dynamic, offering insights into terrestrial planet formation and future exoplanet studies.
- Why the upcoming eclipse is still vital in the age of solar probes
The upcoming total solar eclipse on 12 August 2024 offers scientists an accessible and cost-effective opportunity to study the sun's corona and Earth's atmosphere, despite advancements in space-based solar probes. Researchers will use ground-based methods like balloons, aircraft, and telescopes in Greenland, Iceland, and Spain to observe atmospheric changes and coronal light polarization, contrasting with expensive satellite missions.
- Every SpaceX Starlink satellite has to dodge a collision almost weekly, and experts fear the worst
Every SpaceX Starlink satellite must avoid collisions nearly weekly, raising concerns among experts about potential risks.
- Space junk debris cloud discovered in high-traffic orbit 'is a potential minefield' for the costliest satellites
A space junk debris cloud in high-traffic orbit poses a potential risk to expensive satellites. The article includes a bio of Tereza, a science and technology journalist with expertise in space and engineering.
- Your lost dog can now call home with the world's 1st satellite-connected dog collar
The world's first satellite-connected dog collar allows lost dogs to call home. The article is authored by Tereza, a London-based science and technology journalist with a background in journalism and space studies.
- NASA's Chandra telescope reveals Milky Way's outer reaches may stretch farther than previously known
NASA's Chandra telescope and ESA's XMM-Newton observed gamma-ray bursts to measure dust clouds in the Milky Way's spiral arms, revealing they may extend farther than previously known. The study used geometric analysis of X-ray rings from bursts to determine distances, finding the most distant arm is about 3,500 light-years wide. This method improves precision over assumptions about galactic rotation.
- The growing number of satellites in orbit could soon make telescopes obsolete. 'For astronomy, this would obviously be catastrophic'
The article discusses the potential impact of increasing satellite numbers on astronomy, with experts warning it could render telescopes obsolete. It also highlights Tereza's background as a science and technology journalist with expertise in space and media.
- Burning Forests: Tools for Tracking and Reporting Wildfire Damage
The article discusses tools like NASA's fire-tracking tool, Copernicus Browser, and QGIS for analyzing wildfire damage, using Sicily's Zingaro Nature Reserve as a case study. It highlights the use of satellite imagery (Landsat, Sentinel-2) and vegetation health indices to assess burn severity and track fire recurrence linked to climate change.
- A large, harmless asteroid will zip past Earth this weekend
A large asteroid named 1997 NC1, approximately 2,461 to 5,413 feet wide, will pass Earth at a distance of 1.6 million miles this Saturday. The European Space Agency and NASA confirm it poses no danger, with its next close approach not expected until 2133. Similar-sized asteroids, like 1994 PC1 in 2022, have previously passed safely.
- A large, harmless asteroid will zip past Earth this weekend
A large asteroid, 1997 NC1, will pass Earth this weekend at a safe distance of 1.6 million miles, posing no threat. It is approximately the size of two to four Empire State Buildings and will not return until 2133. NASA, ESA, and other agencies track asteroids to ensure Earth's safety.
- Euclid telescope captures largest-ever image of the Milky Way’s galactic center
The European Space Agency released the largest and most detailed image of the Milky Way’s galactic center, captured by the Euclid telescope over 26 hours on March 23, 2025. The image includes over 60 million stars, nebulae, and star clusters, aiding in microlensing studies to detect exoplanets and measure planetary masses.
- NASA addresses criticism over all-male crew selected for Artemis III test mission
NASA addresses criticism over the all-male crew selection for the Artemis III test mission. The crew includes NASA astronauts Andre Douglas, Randy Bresnik, and Frank Rubio, along with European Space Agency astronaut Luca Parmitano.
- NASA names 4 astronauts on the 'highly complex' Artemis III lunar training mission
NASA has selected four astronauts for the Artemis III lunar training mission, including Randy Bresnik (NASA commander), Luca Parmitano (European Space Agency pilot), Frank Rubio, and Andre Douglas. The mission is described as 'highly complex' and is scheduled to launch next year.
- NASA unveils Artemis III astronauts to test technology for a future moon landing
NASA announced the Artemis III crew, who will orbit Earth and practice docking with lunar landers as part of preparations for a future moon landing. The mission, involving astronauts from NASA and the European Space Agency, is part of the Artemis program aiming for a 2028 lunar surface mission. SpaceX and Blue Origin are competing to develop lunar landers, with Blue Origin recently experiencing a rocket test failure.
- Nasa reveals Artemis III astronauts in next step towards moon landing
Nasa announced the crew for its Artemis III mission, a step toward landing astronauts on the moon. The crew will orbit Earth and practice docking their Orion spacecraft, following Artemis II's record-breaking lunar orbit.
- NASA names 4 astronauts for Artemis III mission to the moon
NASA has selected four astronauts and a backup crew member for the Artemis III moon mission. The crew includes Randy Bresnik, Luca Parmitano, Andre Douglas, and Frank Rubio, who will test rendezvous and docking procedures with moon landers from SpaceX and Blue Origin.
- Nasa reverses evacuation alert order for astronauts aboard International Space Station
NASA reversed an evacuation order for astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) after a worsening air leak prompted temporary sheltering in SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft. The agency and Russia’s Roscosmos examined the leak rate, with Roscosmos stating no immediate threat to the crew despite ongoing efforts to repair cracks in the Zvezda service module. This marked the first reversal of a safe-haven order in the ISS’s 27-year history.
- British Paralympian could be first astronaut with physical disability to live in orbit
A British Paralympian and surgeon could become the first person with a physical disability to live in orbit after the UK Space Agency signed a deal with US startup Vast for a mission to the Haven-1 space station. John McFall, part of the European Space Agency astronaut reserve, is cleared for orbital activities and may participate in the mission following the station's 2027 launch.
- British ex-Paralympian set to be first physically impaired person to live and work in space
John McFall, a British ex-Paralympian, is set to become the first physically impaired person to live and work in space. He will travel to Germany to begin feasibility studies at the European Astronaut Centre with the European Space Agency.
- NASA announces three new Moon missions as agency races to build permanent lunar base by end of 2026
NASA announced three Moon missions (Moon Base I, II, III) by 2026 to establish a permanent lunar base, using commercial landers from Blue Origin and Astrobotic to test technologies for sustained human presence and Mars exploration.
- Japanese Space Agency names arrival date for BepiColombo Mercury mission
Japan’s Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and the European Space Agency (ESA) have confirmed the BepiColombo mission will arrive at Mercury on November 21, 2026, following a delayed schedule due to a thruster glitch. The mission, involving three spacecraft, aims to study Mercury’s interior and magnetosphere, marking humanity’s third mission to the planet.
- Europe tests laser links as satellite comms outgrow radio
Europe has developed a laser-equipped ground station in northern Greece to support secure and high-capacity satellite communications. The Holomondas Optical Ground Station will receive data from satellites via infrared laser links, providing higher throughput and security compared to traditional radio systems. This technology is expected to play a key role in future satellite constellations.
- Solar activity makes space junk crash to Earth faster
A coronal mass ejection captured by the ESA-NASA Solar and Heliospheric Observatory spacecraft increases the speed of space junk crashing to Earth. This event is related to solar activity. The crash of space junk to Earth is accelerated due to this phenomenon.
- All Four Sentinel-1 Satellites Are Now Live
The European Union's Copernicus program has activated all four Sentinel-1 satellites, enhancing Earth observation capabilities. This expansion strengthens Europe's ability to monitor environmental changes and support disaster response efforts through advanced radar imaging.
- Help scientists find spacetime warps in these Euclid Space Telescope images
The Euclid Space Telescope's images display gravitational lenses, where foreground objects bend light from distant features into arcs or Einstein rings. Scientists are seeking public help to identify spacetime warps in these images.
- Gateway manufacturer finally acknowledges issue, fails to mention "corrosion"
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman revealed corrosion issues in the Lunar Gateway's habitation modules during a congressional hearing, prompting initial skepticism. Northrop Grumman, the primary contractor, later acknowledged a manufacturing irregularity, while the European Space Agency confirmed corrosion in its module.
- Astronomers Find the Edge of the Milky Way
Astronomers have determined the edge of the Milky Way using star data from the European Space Agency's Gaia mission, revealing the galaxy is larger than previously thought. The study, published in The Astrophysical Journal, suggests the Milky Way's boundary extends to about 500,000 light-years in diameter.
- Scientists trace latest interstellar comet’s home to a cold, isolated corner of the Milky Way
Scientists traced interstellar comet 3I/Atlas to a cold, isolated region of the Milky Way, suggesting it formed in a pre-solar system environment. The comet, estimated at 11 billion years old, exhibits high deuterium levels in its water, indicating origins in a colder, less heated stellar nursery. The University of Michigan-led study used the ALMA observatory and Hubble Space Telescope for analysis.
- This life-hunting rover may be SpaceX's 1st-ever Mars launch
The Rosalind Franklin rover, designed to search for life on Mars, may be launched by SpaceX as its first mission to the Red Planet. The rover, developed by Europe, is depicted in an illustration exploring the Martian surface.
- All 12 moonwalkers had "lunar hay fever" from dust smelling like gunpowder
All 12 moonwalkers experienced 'lunar hay fever' due to the pungent smell of lunar dust, which resembled gunpowder. The European Space Agency (ESA) highlighted the toxic effects of Moon dust in an article. The phenomenon was reported to cause allergic reactions among astronauts during their missions.
- NASA restarts work to support Europe's uncrewed trip to Mars after years of setbacks
NASA has resumed work to support Europe's uncrewed Mars mission after years of delays and challenges. The collaboration aims to advance uncrewed exploration efforts despite past setbacks.
- NASA gets the ball rolling on its part in Europe's jinxed Mars rover mission
NASA is proceeding with its contribution to the European Space Agency's Rosalind Franklin Mars rover mission despite a Trump administration attempt to cut funding. The mission, which has faced delays and budget challenges, is now moving forward.