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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.

The Commerce Department is proposing to halt work on its space traffic coordination system while it develops a “new operating and financial structure” that may include user fees.

Happy Earth Day, 22 April – a global call to act and protect our planet. At the European Space Agency, that action begins in orbit, where satellites deliver a continuous, global view of Earth and track environmental change. Working with partners, ESA turns this stream of data into actionable information, helping governments and communities respond faster and more effectively to climate-driven risks.
Here are two examples of how space technology is being used to anticipate threats to safeguard food security and public health.

Northrop Grumman said April 21 it took a $71 million charge in its fiscal first quarter linked to an anomaly with a solid rocket booster that has grounded ULA’s Vulcan.

Officials confirm $71 billion request for U.S.

NordSpace has secured early defense funding to develop a very low Earth orbit satellite, further broadening the Canadian startup’s push to build sovereign space capabilities beyond launch.