ESA Highlights 2025

Highlights 2025 – Printable PDF

Representing the runup to a crucial Council at Ministerial Level, 2025 was a busy year for Earth observation, seeing the launch of multiple Copernicus Sentinel satellites, weather satellites and the innovative Biomass forest-mapping mission. It also saw Polish ESA project astronaut Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski’s visit to the ISS. This edition features in-depth articles covering the half-century anniversary of ESA’s founding, the first 30 years of ESA navigation efforts, Euclid’s mission to the ‘dark Universe’, the ongoing expansion of ESA’s Business Incubation Centre network and the first artificial solar eclipse in space, performed by the agency’s Proba-3 mission.

Highlights 2024 – Printable PDF

In 2024, ESA continued to drive Europe’s innovation and excellence in space, equipping the continent with advanced tools and knowledge to address global and local challenges. The year saw pioneering missions, cutting-edge satellites and the pivotal restoration of Europe’s independent access to space. This edition features four in-depth articles spotlighting the inaugural launch of Ariane 6, the graduation of ESA’s new astronaut class, the Hera planetary defence mission, and the Moonlight programme, which aims to establish Europe’s first dedicated satellite constellation for lunar communication and navigation.

Highlights 2023 – Printable PDF

In 2023, ESA marked a transformative chapter with the inauguration of its revamped headquarters in Paris. Beyond its aesthetic upgrades, this milestone symbolised ESA’s evolution towards greater agility and readiness for the new space age. Notable events included the launches of Juice and Euclid, alongside Andreas Mogensen’s arrival at the International Space Station. The year also served as a stark reminder of our planet’s fragility, captured by Earth observation satellites. ESA Highlights 2023 not only chronicles milestones but also spotlights pioneering work, including efforts in the sustainable use of space and advancements in quantum technologies.

Highlights 2022 – Printable PDF

ESA’s Ministerial Council in Paris, with a record 17% increase in funding, concluded a year of hard work, ambition and success for ESA and the European space sector. Highlights of the year included Vega-C’s first launch and important steps in preparation for Ariane 6. Stunning images from the Webb space telescope and the Gaia mission were gratifying moments for all involved. Two ESA astronauts completed missions on the Space Station this year. And the launch of Artemis was the culmination of efforts from European teams who contributed to the first Moon mission in 50 years.

Highlights 2021 – Printable PDF

This year brought a new Director General and a new vision for ESA and Europe in space. The highlights of 2021 include a closer relationship with the EU, two ESA astronauts on the International Space Station, the launch of the Eutelsat Quantum satellite and the first astronaut selection campaign since 2008. European launchers lifted off numerous times in 2021, paving the way for the inaugural launches of Vega-C and Ariane 6 next year. BepiColombo sent us images of Mercury, and Earth observation missions continued to monitor climate change. Highlights 2021 includes in-depth articles on CubeSats, Galileo, space debris, as well as Moon expeditions and lunar science.

Highlights 2020 – Printable PDF

Despite the challenges of 2020, ESA maintained its momentum on key missions and saw the launches of Solar Orbiter, Vega’s 16th flight and Sentinel-6, which are all covered in this full-colour publication. It was a good year for amazing space pictures, with unprecedented images of the Sun, selfies taken by BepiColombo as it swung by Earth and then Venus, as well as incredible images of deep space from Hubble, which marked its 30th anniversary. Highlights 2020 also includes in-depth articles on the evolution of Vega launchers, ESA’s telecoms Partnership Projects and our future space weather missions.

Highlights 2019

ESA reached some incredible milestones in this 12-month period and Luca Parmitano’s return to the Space Station was one of them. Many other projects also came to fruition in 2019. Some key highlights include completion of the first NASA Orion spacecraft, including ESA’s European Service Module; the first image of a Terrestrial Gamma Ray flash; and the first science results from the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter. ESA’s Space19+ Ministerial Council also took place at the end of 2019, confirming a high level of support for our future space programmes.

Highlights 2018

We started 2018 with new ideas and busy preparations for new missions. ESA also celebrated some past successes! Spring was packed with missions and more! Highlights included Gaia’s second data release and ESA Astronaut Alexander Gerst boarded the International Space Station for the second time. In summer we celebrated the 100th launch of Ariane 5 from Europe’s Spaceport and ESA’s new wind-measuring satellite Aeolus got to work. Gerst returning to Earth after his Horizons mission was the perfect end to a year of incredible ESA achievements.

Highlights 2017

2017 got off to an inspiring start with a successful outcome for ESA’s ambitious new Aeolus satellite. Space debris, climate change and big plans for our future in space made the second quarter of the year very busy for ESA. The third quarter of the year saw new missions begin, plus a fond farewell to the amazing Saturn mission, Cassini. We ended the year with the launch of four more Galileo satellites and a parting gift from ESA’s comet mission Rosetta.