ESA Exploration
@exploration.esa.int
Sharing news on Europe's human and robotic exploration, from astronaut training to the next giant leap to the Moon and Mars.
"Day 224 orbit 3472 — ESTEC, ESA’s technical heart, is located in Noordwijk, in the Netherlands, and sits just behind the sand dunes, with the North Sea beyond", says @esa.int astronaut Sophie Adenot. 👋 @technology.esa.int 📸 ESA/NASA – S. Adenot Zoom in: www.esa.int/ESA_Multimed...
Noordwijk, The Netherlands
esa.int
🔴 This image gives us strong Mars vibes. Here's a crew of astronauts climbing to the top of a volcano in Lanzarote, Spain. They're hunting for geological evidence of water and volcanic activity, two key clues in the search for life beyond Earth. www.esa.int/ESA_Multimed...
Space explorers in the land of volcanoes
Space explorers in the land of volcanoes
esa.int
"Day 221 orbit 3426 — What happens to our muscles when they no longer have to fight gravity? That’s one of the questions behind Myotones, an experiment looking at how our muscles adapt to life in space", says @esa.int astronaut Sophie Adenot. www.esa.int/ESA_Multimed... #εpsilon
Myotones: Studying muscle adaptation to weightlessness
esa.int
🚀 Today, European teams conduct the 500th simulation for @esa.int International Space Station operations. More than 260 flight controllers have been certified to date. This simulation helps prepare future flight controllers to support astronauts and science aboard the Space Station.
👨🚀 Pablo Álvarez and the #PANGAEA effect. 👀 An engineer by training, the @esa.int astronaut is starting to see the world through geological eyes. blogs.esa.int/caves/2026/0...
Pika-pika…Cupola? ⚡🌍 Pikachu is enjoying one of the most spectacular views in space: our planet Earth. The plush is floating in the European-built Cupola, a favourite spot for astronauts aboard the International Space Station👩🚀.
European Space Agency@esa.int · 5d agoPokémon is heading to space with ESA. 🚀⚡ For #WorldSpaceWeek2026, Pokémon and ESA are teaming up to inspire the next generation of explorers. A special Pikachu plush has even travelled to the International Space Station with ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot! (Credits: ESA/NASA S. Adenot)
Day 219 orbit 3391 — Sunday morning science with Sophie, episode 16, part 1: Radiation, the “aurora factory”. 🎥 @esa.int / NASA
Week 2 of #PANGAEA geology training: 🪨 Moon rocks from Apollo missions 🗺️ Mapping the lunar surface ☄️ Finding traces of a cataclysmic asteroid impact around 15 million years ago 📸 Follow the journey in our gallery: www.flickr.com/photos/europ...
"Day 217, orbit 3363 — For the European Heritage Days, Paris opens its doors... and so does @fr.esa.int! The French capital is celebrating its history, culture and iconic landmarks. Have fun spotting them in this photo!" says @esa.int astronaut Sophie Adenot. 🔗 www.esa.int/ESA_Multimed...
Paris, France
esa.int
Geology Moon joy, with astronauts on Earth 🌚 ESA's new #PANGAEA instructor Katherine Joy dreams of new lunar samples. She's the only European scientist on the geology team for Artemis IV, the next crewed mission to land on the Moon. blogs.esa.int/caves/2026/0... @manchester.ac.uk
"Day 216, orbit 3348 — Food has always been a way to connect people. We often trade specialties – before long, everyone knows each other's favorites 😋 & saving a treat for a crewmate is one of the many small gestures that help build a strong crew", says @esa.int astronaut Sophie Adenot. 🎥 ESA/NASA
🌍➡️🚀 What comes after the International Space Station? In the latest episode of #ESAExplores, @esa.int astronaut Andreas Mogensen shares his perspective on Europe's future in orbit, from commercial space stations to the next chapter of human spaceflight. 🎧 Listen now: pod.link/1463873320
"Day 213, orbit 3302 — The South American desert never disappoints. These volcanoes & mountain peaks look magnificent from above... On a recent pass, travelling at 28,000 km/h, I snapped 1,400 pictures in only 6 min 😉" says @esa.int astronaut Sophie Adenot. 📸 ESA/NASA – S. Adenot
🪨 Why do astronauts need to learn geology? 👨🚀 Pablo, Jasmin and Kimiya reply right from the Bletterbach canyon in Italy, in week one of @esa.int's PANGAEA training.
"Day 212 orbit 3282 — Sunday morning science, episode 15: Mass, inertia and energy! The more mass an object has, the more energy it takes to change its motion..." says @esa.int astronaut Sophie Adenot. 🎥 ESA/NASA
From crochet hook to launch pad 🧶🚀 For #InternationalCrochetDay, here’s a throwback to our Orion plush visiting NASA’s Kennedy Space Center ahead of Artemis II. The real spacecraft flew four astronauts around the Moon, powered by @esa.int’s European Service Module. 📸: ESA-M. Deschamps
🌚🔴 Moon or Mars... Can you guess who's holding a Moon rock? 👨🚀 Astronauts get hands-on with meteorites from other worlds during @esa.int's PANGAEA geology training. Left to right: Kimiya Yui (JAXA), Jasmin Moghbeli (NASA), Pablo Álvarez (ESA).
The International Space Summit marked an important step in shaping a common European vision for space exploration. #ParisSpaceSummit
🚢 Soon to be frozen in space and time, this alien-looking vessel is beginning its first mission. 🧊 For 8 months, a crew of 12 won't leave the drifting ice in the Arctic to study how how life adapts to isolation & extremes in a region very sensitive to climate change. www.esa.int/ESA_Multimed...
Arctic isolation for science
Tara Polar Station
esa.int
🚀 Europe is taking a major step towards autonomous cargo transportation in low Earth orbit. @esa.int has signed a contract with The Exploration Company under ALADDIN for an initial Nyx demonstration mission to the International Space Station and future cargo services. 🔗 www.esa.int/Newsroom/Pre...
Smell, touch, observe 🖐️👃👀 Astronauts experience geology using their senses during @esa.int's PANGAEA training.
🇬🇷👨🚀 @esa.int will implement an astronaut mission to the International Space Station for Greece with Vast. ESA Project Astronaut Adrianos Golemis is planned to serve as mission specialist and would become the first Greek astronaut. The mission is planned for 2027. 🔗 www.esa.int/Newsroom/Pre...
Will we be passengers or pilots? Customers or service providers? Tenants or architects? At the International Space Summit, I argued that Europe must take steps now to shape its own future in space. Read my full speech 🧑🚀🚀 esamultimedia.esa.int/docs/corpora... #ParisSpaceSummit
Even astronauts are going back to school 🎒 "Time to put on the hiking boots and get out the geologist’s hammer," says @esa.int astronaut Pablo Álvarez 🥾 Our PANGAEA geology training has kicked off at the Bletterbach canyon in the Italian Dolomites ⛰️🇮🇹
World leaders, ministers, astronauts and industry representatives will gather in Paris this week for the International Space Summit. Read more: esa.int/About_Us/Corporate_news/Europe_s_space_future_in_focus_at_the_International_Space_Summit #ParisSpaceSummit
Europe's space future in focus at the International Space Summit
The International Space Summit, taking place in Paris, France, on 9 and 10 September, will bring together world leaders, ministers, industry representatives and astronauts at a pivotal moment for the ...
esa.int
"Day 205, orbit 3174 — now that the EVA season is behind us, let’s come back to Sunday morning science with Sophie! Today, episode 14, part 3: the science of nutrition! Keeping astronauts healthy, strong, and mission-ready…" 🎥 ESA/NASA
