Yesterday we opened #IAC2025 in Sydney 🐨

We stand at the threshold of a historic milestone in ESA’s cooperation with Australia, whose government announced a mandate to begin negotiations on a Cooperative Agreement with @esa.int, potentially opening up new and exciting opportunities between European and Australian space sectors.

Another fully European launch carrying European missions that will carry on a legacy of crucial applications here on Earth, for Europeans. This is what @esa.int is about: space for Europe!

INVICTUS builds upon earlier ESA-led technological developments and will provide a platform for industry, agencies, and academia to trial next-generation hypersonic technologies. #UKSC2025

🔴 LIVE: Watch @esa.int project astronaut Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski from Poland return to Earth. 🇵🇱🌎 ▶️ youtube.com/live/tb7wkB0... 🪂 Splashdown: 10:30 BST/11:30 CEST. 🎯 Landing target: Off the coast of California, USA. #Ignis #Ax4

Imagine a Europe without ESA: the Universe would dimmer and less explored, we would celebrate fewer native astronauts or space scientists, and our telecommunications, navigation and weather forecasting would be dependent on foreign powers. Flip through 50 hallmark achievements across 50 years ⤵️

Italy selected @esa.int to develop the €1.1 bn IRIDE project in response to #COVID19. The 1st satellite was launched three years later, and now we have a constellation🛰️ www.esa.int/Applications...

Yesterday we celebrated #50YearsofESA @esa.int's journey began fifty years ago when ten European States put pen to paper and signed the ESA Convention. Not just any document, but a legal masterpiece that would profoundly shape our continent’s future, achieving what many thought impossible.

Today, at the #ParisAirShow and in the context of a changing geopolitical landscape, I met with Acting Administrator Janet Petro. ESA and NASA have a long-standing relationship, spanning not only decades but missions from the full spectrum of space activities.

Full circle to inaugurate Paris Space Hub at #SalonDuBourget on a year in which ESA celebrates 50 years. Today's geopolitical uncertainties offer an opening for Europe to better position itself in space. Provided Europe stays united, we can turn a challenge into opportunity. For that we need France.

We will join @cnes.fr in the ‘Paris Space Hub’ during the #SalonDuBourget taking place from 16-22 June. Catch a glimpse of our programme for the week ➡️ esa.int/About_Us/ESA... #ParisAirShow

In today’s geopolitical environment – with increasing tensions and fragmentation, re-nationalisation, unstable economic environments, and shifting priorities – reliable collaboration is crucial. We are witnessing an unprecedented chance to mobilise for increased resiliency and autonomy. #ESAxCanada

✅ Crew, spacecraft and rocket are ready for launch. The #Ax4 crew stands united as the Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft roll out to historic pad 39A at #NASA's Kennedy Space Center. Go #Ignis 🔥🇵🇱, go @astro-slawosz.bsky.social! 👨‍🚀

It is an enormous pleasure to be in Canada this week. In today’s geopolitical and economic environment, our partnership has never been more strategically important. #ESAxCanada🍁

“If I have seen further than others, it is by standing upon the shoulders of giants.” - Sir Isaac Newton #50yearsofESA

🇨🇭Today we inaugurated the European Space Deep-Tech Innovation Centre (ESDI) – the first @esa.int presence in Switzerland. The inauguration of ESDI is a testimonial to ESA’s and Switzerland’s joint commitment to push innovation and drive economic growth. @psich.bsky.social

Significant progress has been made by the ESA-European Comission task force on a future Earth Observation Government Service with the ESA Resilience from Space programme as a first implementation step for our November Ministerial Meeting: #CM25.

🔭🚀 We will be present at the 55th edition of International Paris Air Show, taking place on 16-22 June at Le Bourget airport. Here we celebrate 50 years of advancing space for Europe, as well as highlighting our vision for the future, ESA’s Strategy 2040. Find out more ➡️ esa.int/About_Us/Exh...

Today, in the context of #GLEX2025, @esa.int signed a Joint Statement of Intent on Human Exploration with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). esa.int/Newsroom/Pre...

Biomass antenna deployment selfie 👇 www.esa.int/Applications...

I had an introductory meeting with NASA's Acting Administrator, Janet Petro. ESA and NASA have a long-standing relationship with deep and well-established roots, NASA being ESA’s largest cooperation partner for many decades.

Preventing the addition of new debris is no longer sufficient. We must now actively clean up the space debris environment to halt the onset of a chain reaction that could render heavily utilised regions unusable. Immediate and decisive action is necessary. www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIsP...

Farewell, Gaia – your legacy will forever remain written in the stars.

🆕 This new NASA/ESA/CSA James #Webb Space Telescope image shows a rare cosmic phenomenon called an 'Einstein ring' 🧪🔭 www.esa.int/ESA_Multimed... @science.esa.int @spacetelescope.bsky.social

Thanks for booking with Vega-C, Biomass, your flight details are confirmed! #VV26 🚀

Agreed with ESA Member States at the Space Summit in Seville in 2023, the ELC is part of ESA's preparation of future European space transportation services, promoting a greater choice of European launch services and increased competitiveness for the next decade and beyond. More info here 👇

Sometimes, Webb just stops you in your tracks.

Whatever the outcome, Isar Aerospace's upcoming Spectrum launch will be historic: the 1st commercial orbital launch from mainland Europe. The support and co-funding @esa.int has given Isar Aerospace and other launch service provider startups is paying off for increased autonomy in Europe.

Strategy 2040's goals keep the future of European citizens at the core of the work we do: 1. Protect our Planet and Climate 2. Explore and Discover 3. Strengthen European Autonomy and Resilience 4. Boost Growth and Competitiveness 5. Inspire Europe Full Strategy👇 www.esa.int/About_Us/ESA...

Coming up: join today's ESA Council media session at 13:00 GMT/14:00 CET 📺 esawebtv.esa.int www.esa.int/Newsroom/Pre...

I presented to ESA Council the 1st data from @esa.int's Euclid mission. This dataset includes 26 million galaxies, including a catalogue of more than 380 000 galaxies and the first catalogue of 500 galaxy-galaxy strong lenses, created using AI algorithms trained by the effort of 10k volunteers. 🅰️🧵👇

⏰ Have you set your alarm for 12:00 CET / 11:00 GMT today? Be ready to be amazed at the latest treasures uncovered by #ESAEuclid, our #DarkUniverse detective 🕵️ Watch this space for details & this link for a video premiere: www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXCB... 🔭🧪 #astrosci

This ESA Impact reports on Q1 of ESA's 50th year. That's 50 years of celebrated achievements bringing benefits to Europe's economy, industries, and policies and (at the centre of it all) its citizens, and of leveraging ESA's role as a strong partner to strengthen European cooperation globally.

"To confine our attention to terrestrial matters would be to limit the human spirit" -the great Stephen Hawking Martian moon Deimos appears to cross Mars in this sequence of Asteroid Framing Camera images taken by the @esa.int's Hera, showing a rarely glimpsed side of the tidally-locked moon.

🔔 SUCCESS! ✅ ESA's Hera Mission orchestrated a successful Mars flyby, using the red planet’s gravity to swing it towards its destination asteroids, while also testing its instruments. @esa.int will unveil flyby photos and debrief the operation tomorrow 👇https://www.youtube.com/live/cHiASEowrio

@esa.int and @ukspaceagency.bsky.social are boosting the UK's space sector and startup scene by driving economic growth, tech autonomy, high-value jobs, and a shared ethical and sustainable vision. This increase in funding highlights our joint commitment in elevating the future of Europe in space.

The 2nd successful flight of #Ariane6 marks a significant milestone in Europe's journey towards enhanced autonomous access to space. Ariane 6 is a bedrock of this endeavour, paving the way for a promising future for European space activities, alongside Vega-C and new launchers on the horizon.

ESA-Generaldirektor Josef Aschbacher wurde von der österreichischen Bundesregierung mit dem Großen Ehrenzeichen für Verdienste um die Republik Österreich ausgezeichnet. @josefaschbacher.esa.int

During emergencies, the ability to deliver actionable information anytime, anywhere can make the difference for saving lives and livelihoods. This approach empowers humanitarian workers to make informed decisions in the best interest of affected populations, even in the most fragile environments.

No showstoppers! The successful completion of Phase 1 of the Fly! Project with @esa.int astronaut reserve John McFall means that we have demonstrated that it is technically possible for an individual with a lower limb amputation to participate as a fully integrated crew member on the ISS.

Norway recognizes the strategic importance of space, demonstrated by increased investment in Andøya spaceport, aiming to enable the launch of payloads into LEO within 2025. Their expertise in maritime awareness and arctic and climate understanding, makes them an essential partner for ESA and Europe.

🌌Einstein Ring Discovered by @esa.int's Euclid in galaxy NGC 6505 "just" 590 million light-years from Earth, which relatively speaking, is quite close! The newly discovered ring is made up of light from a previously unobserved galaxy 4.42 billion light-years away.

When a star reaches end of life, it can explode in a supernova, generating a shock wave which can result in a supernova remnant (SNR). ESA's XMM-Newton, tasked with studying stars at all stages of their lives, has now found two stray SNRs in the far reaches of our neighbouring galaxy 👀

In Warsaw today to discuss the growing Polish and European space leadership. The best space ambassadors are astronauts, and I look forward to the #Ax4 launch featuring the first Polish technological and scientific mission to the ISS, with ESA Project Astronaut – Slawosz Uznański-Wiśniewski.

The @esascience.bsky.social Gaia mission recently finished its sky-scanning phase, having made more than three trillion observations of around two billion stars and other objects, ultimately transforming and revolutionising our understanding of the Milky Way and our cosmic neighborhood.

This year’s theme for the #EuropeanSpaceConf in Brussels, ‘Consolidating Europe’s Space Ambition: Towards a Competitive, Secure, and Autonomous Future’ perfectly aligns with what @esa.int feels very strongly about: elevating the future of Europe for the well-being of its citizens.

I am still testing this thing out... what do you want to hear from me on this platform?

"Unity requires effort, vision and determination. If Europe is to succeed in space and on the global stage, we must act with urgency and purpose. We must increase investment, forge partnerships and deliver the vision that will elevate Europe to new heights. ESA is ready." - Josef Aschbacher (3/3)

ESA Director General @josefaschbacher.esa.int and EU Commissioner for Space & Defence Andrius Kubilius reflect on the importance of partnership and unity between the European space ecosystem, the European Union and @esa.int at the #EuropeanSpaceConference👇 (1/3)

Join us at the opening of the 17th #EuropeanSpaceConference in Brussels this morning! The event begins with opening keynotes featuring ESA Director General @josefaschbacher.esa.int and EU Commissioner for Defence & Space Andrius Kubilius, followed by a joint press conference. @ec.europa.eu