The most spectacular aurora of the εpsilon mission (so far!)
Friday, 03 July 2026 13:30
Video:
00:01:17
This timelapse was published on social media by ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot with the following caption:
Day 139, orbit 2155 — After the pictures (available in HD on my Flickr account), I'm so happy to finally share the timelapse of the most spectacular aurora of the εpsilon mission so far!
Watching this glowing green ribbon shimmer and dance, it's easy to lose yourself completely in the magic of the moment. Turn the sound on for the full experience – the music was carefully chosen to bring you as close as possible to what I felt watching this from space
Week in images: 29 June - 03 July 2026
Friday, 03 July 2026 12:15
Week in images: 29 June - 03 July 2026
Discover our week through the lens
Chinese satellite manufacturer Hongqing raises $191 million
Friday, 03 July 2026 12:10
HELSINKI — Hongqing Technology, the satellite manufacturing affiliate of launch firm Landspace, has secured one of the largest single raises for a Chinese commercial satellite maker.
Artist's view of Space Transportation's major programmes from 2026 onwards – vertical
Friday, 03 July 2026 07:28
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Artist's view of Space Transportation's major programmes from 2026 onwards – vertical Earth from Space: Grand Canyon, US
Friday, 03 July 2026 07:00
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The Grand Canyon, a stunning natural feature in the landscape of Arizona, US, is featured in these two satellite views. Perovskite solar panel startup Verde Technologies shifts focus to space
Thursday, 02 July 2026 18:27
Isar Aerospace to launch German-built Planet imaging satellite
Thursday, 02 July 2026 17:20
Isar Aerospace won a contract from Planet’s German subsidiary to launch an imaging satellite, demonstrating an end-to-end space capability for the country.
Polish space tech company Sybilla Technologies secures funds to enter U.S. market
Thursday, 02 July 2026 16:38
3D-printed metal: unlocking crew autonomy
Thursday, 02 July 2026 14:00
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When it comes to the future of human exploration, 3D printers hold the key to crew autonomy in areas ranging from maintenance to medicine. Delivered by ESA in 2024, the first metal 3D printer in space has just produced its fifth sample, retrieved by ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot during the εpsilon mission.
Since the beginning of 2026, six cargo missions have left the International Space Station after delivering supplies. At just 400 km above Earth, the Station remains within easy reach for regular resupply, but as astronauts venture farther away from our home planet, the ability to produce replacement parts,
Timelapse: four P160C boosters for Ariane 6 – from integration to launch
Thursday, 02 July 2026 14:00
Video:
00:04:24
A core stage, an upper stage and four of the most powerful boosters ever produced in Europe. This timelapse video shows how Ariane 6 is built up at the launch zone.
On 17 June 2026 at 09:21 local time (13:21 BST, 14:21 CEST), Ariane 6 flight VA269 soared to orbit from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana. 36 satellites for Amazon’s Leo constellation left Earth powered by four P160C-based boosters, the first time these upgraded boosters were used – making this launch the most powerful so far for Europe’s heavy-lift rocket.
The debut of the four new boosters based on
Making satellite communications more resilient
Thursday, 02 July 2026 12:50
In this episode of Space Minds, Mike Gruss talks with Kymeta’s Ryan Stevenson.
3D-printed metal
Thursday, 02 July 2026 12:00
Video:
00:01:28
This video was published by ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot on social media with the following caption:
Day 133, orbit 2063 — In this timelapse, I’m retrieving the fourth sample printed with the first 3D metal printer ever sent to space, ESA’s Metal 3D printer… and getting everything ready for the next printing session! Before opening the printer, the procedure requires putting on safety goggles and a mask, just in case there are any floating nanoparticles.
3D printers are far from being simple gadgets. They aim at increasing crew autonomy, which will be even more crucial during future exploration missions,
Watch: Earth Explorer 12 User Consultation Meeting
Thursday, 02 July 2026 11:30
On 7–8 July 2026, leading Earth observation scientists and experts are gathering in Tallinn, Estonia, for the Earth Explorer 12 User Consultation Meeting – a key milestone in the selection of ESA's next Earth Explorer mission.
Watch live: Earth Explorer 12 User Consultation Meeting on ESA WebTV TWO
Surface CubeSat contracted for Ramses asteroid mission
Thursday, 02 July 2026 09:16
The European Space Agency has contracted Spanish company EMXYS for the first CubeSat designed to operate on the surface of an asteroid. Don Quijote is a shoebox-sized spacecraft that will be deployed onto the Apophis asteroid by ESA’s Ramses mission before the asteroid flies by Earth on 13 April 2029.
Final Atlas 5 Amazon Leo mission launches
Thursday, 02 July 2026 08:54
An Atlas 5 lifted off July 2 carrying a set of Amazon Leo satellites in the final launch by that vehicle to carry a satellite payload.