European Space Agency, ESA

Ariane 6 full stage engine hot-fire test

European Space Agency, ESA — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 14:27:59 GMT

Watch as Europe’s new Ariane 6 rocket goes through a full-scale rehearsal in preparation for its first flight, when teams from @ArianeGroup, @CnesFrance and ESA on the ground will complete a launch countdown rehearsal. The test includes the ignition of the core stage Vulcain 2.1 engine, followed by 470 seconds of stabilised operation covering the entire core stage flight phase, as it would function on a launch into space.

Coverage started 19:40 UTC (20:40 CET) on 23 November 2023, 20 minutes before engine ignition and continue five minutes after core stage operation, once the engine burns through all its propellant.

Timestaps of the video:
00:00 - 16:18 – Stay tuned
16:19 - 47:49 – Countdown and stop of countdown
47:50 - 01:14:19 – Stay tuned
01:14:20 - 01:30:43 – Restart of countdown and hot-fire test

For this rehearsal, the boosters were not ignited, so Ariane 6 stayed firmly on the launch pad at Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana.

The eight-minute engine-fire trial reenacts how the Ariane 6 core stage will fire during a normal flight into space. The trial, conducted with a test model on the launch pad at Europe’s Spaceport will be the longest ‘full-stack' run yet for Ariane 6’s lower liquid propulsion module equipped with a Vulcain 2.1 engine.

The Vulcain 2.1 engine will burn through almost 150 tonnes of propellant supplied from the Ariane 6 core stage tanks – liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen – supercooled to temperatures below -250°C.

The Vulcain 2.1 engine is an evolution of the Vulcain 2 engine that made Ariane 5 Europe's most successful launch system ever. The upgrade has a simplified and cheaper design and features new technology in the engine nozzle, while the ignition system has been moved from the engine to the launch pad to make the core stage perform better and cost less.

Credits: ESA - European Space Agency

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Timelapse of Hera's Mars flyby

European Space Agency, ESA — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 14:17:49 GMT

On 12 March 2025, ESA’s Hera spacecraft soared just 5000 km above Mars and passed within 300 km of its distant moon, Deimos. Captured by Hera’s 1020x1020 pixel Asteroid Framing Camera, this video sequence offers a rare view of the red planet and its enigmatic moon. The original greyscale images have been colour-enhanced based on known surface features.

Learn more: https://www.esa.int/Space_Safety/Hera/Hera_asteroid_mission_spies_Mars_s_Deimos_moon

Credits: ESA - European Space Agency
Music: In Search Of Solace - Symphony Of The Solitary Mind

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L’ESA cerca nuove astronaute e nuovi astronauti

European Space Agency, ESA — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 14:08:08 GMT

For the first time in over a decade, the European Space Agency (ESA) is seeking new astronauts.
This one-hour-long briefing with ESA experts and astronauts outlines the selection criteria and desirable traits for astronauts. It also provides further detail around the ‘Fly!’ Feasibility Study and astronaut reserve, as well as ESA’s vision for the next 10 years of human and robotic exploration.

Participants:
Luca Parmitano, ESA astronaut
Ersilia Vaudo-Scarpetta, Chief Diversity Officer
Josef Aschbacher, future ESA Director General
Sara Pastor, I-Hab Gateway module Team Leader
Antonella Costa, Human Resources Business Partner

Moderator:
Fabrizio L’Abbate, Communication Department

Learn more: https://www.esa.int/yourwaytospace

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#AstronautSelection
#YourWayToSpace

ESA zoekt nieuwe astronauten

European Space Agency, ESA — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 14:04:41 GMT

Voor het eerst in 11 jaar tijd is de Europese ruimtevaartorganisatie (ESA) op zoek naar nieuwe astronauten. De rekruten zullen aan de zijde van bestaande ESA astronauten werken, nu Europa een nieuw tijdperk van ruimteverkenning ingaat.

Sprekers zijn onder meer ESA-astronaut André Kuipers, Low Earth Orbit Exploration Group Leader, hoofd European Astronaut Centre Frank De Winne, Science Coordinator for Human Research, Human and Robotic Exploration Programme Angelique Van Ombergen, hoofd Talent Acquisition Section Lucy van der Tas.

Learn more: https://www.esa.int/yourwaytospace

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We’ve never seen the northern lights like this before 🤩

European Space Agency, ESA — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 13:56:34 GMT

Smile will be the first spacecraft since 2008 to capture the full ring of northern lights around the north pole in ultraviolet light, and for a record-breaking 45 hours without interruption.

Looking down from above, Smile will use its ultraviolet camera to see the full glowing circle around the North Pole. It will reveal where exactly the northern lights are and how they are moving.

Geomagnetic storms happen when the Sun sends a huge blast of charged particles, straight in our direction. They cause especially bright auroras that can be seen much further from the poles than usual. Previous spacecraft have only been able to observe the resulting auroras for up to about 15 hours at a time. By recording for 45 hours at a time with UVI, Smile will give us a much better idea of how geomagnetic storms lead to the beautiful lights that have mesmerised humans for thousands of years.

Our Sun’s outbursts also have the potential to disrupt and damage satellites as well as vital infrastructure on the ground like power grids and radio communications. By comparing the data Smile collects to reports of damage to infrastructure, we can hopefully better understand the consequences of solar activity on planet Earth.

📹 European Space Agency (ESA)

#ESA #northenlights #science

We’re about to learn a lot more about the magnetic bubble surrounding our planet. 🌎

European Space Agency, ESA — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 13:55:57 GMT

Smile is currently being prepared for launch at Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana. The launch is set for 9 April 2026.

Smile will be the first mission to observe Earth’s magnetosphere in X-ray light, revealing exactly when, where and how the solar wind interacts with Earth’s magnetic environment.

The image at the beginning of the video is a simulation showing what we expect to see with Smile’s X-ray camera – and reveals the smiley face responsible for the mission’s name! The ‘smile’ is the edge of the magnetosphere facing the Sun, and the two ‘eyes’ are the magnetic holes at Earth’s north and south poles.

Smile is a joint European–Chinese mission. We are responsible for the payload module (carrying the scientific instruments), the launch vehicle, one of the scientific instruments and part of the science operations. The Chinese Academy of Sciences is responsible for three scientific instruments, the platform, and the mission and science operations.

📹 European Space Agency (ESA)

#ESA #Space #Earth

This is where Europe talks to space everyday 🧑‍🚀

European Space Agency, ESA — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 13:55:49 GMT

The Columbus Control Centre supports the European Columbus space laboratory. It is operated jointly by ESA and DLR at the German Space Operations Center GSOC in Oberpfaffenhofen, near Munich, Germany.

The Control Centre is the direct link to Columbus in orbit. The centre's main functions are to command and control the European space laboratory Columbus’ systems, to coordinate operations of European payloads on the International Space Station and to operate the European ground communications network.

The Centre’s operations teams provide support seven days a week 24 hours a day. The centre has two control rooms: one for operations and one for preparations, such as training controllers and simulations.

📹 European Space Agency (ESA)
📸 ESA/DLR

#ESA #Astronaut #InternationalSpaceStation