List of projects of the European Space Agency
Encyclopedia
European Space Agency
The European Space Agency , established in 1975, is an intergovernmental organisation dedicated to the exploration of space, currently with 18 member states...
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Current projects already launched
- ArtemisArtemis (satellite)Artemis is a geostationary earth orbit satellite for telecommunications, built for and owned by ESA. The Artemis satellite operates at the 21.5E orbital position....
— Europe's most advanced telecommunication satellite. - Cluster IICluster missionCluster II is a space mission of the European Space Agency, with NASA participation, to study the Earth's magnetosphere over the course of an entire solar cycle. The mission is composed of four identical spacecraft flying in a tetrahedral formation...
— a group of four probes studying the magnetosphere. - COROTCorotCorot may refer to:* Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot, French landscape painter * COROT, a space mission with the dual aims of finding extrasolar planets and performing asteroseismology* COROT-7, a dwarf star in the Monoceros constellation...
— a space telescope for detecting rocky exoplanets larger than Earth. Launched Dec 2006. A project led by the French space agency CNESCNESThe is the French government space agency . Established under President Charles de Gaulle in 1961, its headquarters are located in central Paris and it is under the supervision of the French Ministries of Defence and Research...
. - CryoSat-2CryoSat-2CryoSat-2 is a European Space Agency environmental research satellite which was launched in April 2010. It provides scientists with data about the polar ice caps and tracks changes in the thickness of the ice with a resolution of about . This information is useful for monitoring climate change...
— a three-year radar altimetry mission launched on 8 April 2010 to determine variations in the thickness of the Earth’s continental ice sheets and marine ice cover; built to replace CryosatCryoSatCryoSat is an ESA programme which will monitor variations in the extent and thickness of polar ice through use of a satellite in low Earth orbit. The information provided about the behaviour of coastal glaciers that drain thinning ice sheets will be key to better predictions of future sea-level rise...
after launch failure. - EnvisatEnvisatEnvisat is an Earth-observing satellite. It was launched on 1 March 2002 aboard an Ariane 5 from the Guyana Space Centre in Kourou, French Guyana into a Sun synchronous polar orbit at an altitude of...
— is the world's largest and most complex environmental satellite. - ERS-2 — is an earth-observing satellite launched in 1995. It is the successor to ERS-1.
- GIOVE-A — Experimental satellite launched Dec 2005 as forerunner for the Galileo positioning systemGalileo positioning systemGalileo is a global navigation satellite system currently being built by the European Union and European Space Agency . The €20 billion project is named after the famous Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei...
. - GIOVE-B — the second Galileo in-orbit validation satellite launched on April 2008.
- GOCEGoceGoce is an opera composed by Kiril Makedonski in tribute to Gotse Delchev. The work was commissioned to be the very first opera performed by the Macedonian National Opera Company. It premiered on May 24, 1954 and it is the first opera to be written in the Macedonian language....
— a mission designed to measure the Earth's gravity field, launched on march 2009. - Herschel Space ObservatoryHerschel Space ObservatoryThe Herschel Space Observatory is a European Space Agency space observatory sensitive to the far infrared and submillimetre wavebands. It is the largest space telescope ever launched, carrying a single mirror of in diameter....
— a space telescope observing in the far-infrared. - Hubble Space TelescopeHubble Space TelescopeThe Hubble Space Telescope is a space telescope that was carried into orbit by a Space Shuttle in 1990 and remains in operation. A 2.4 meter aperture telescope in low Earth orbit, Hubble's four main instruments observe in the near ultraviolet, visible, and near infrared...
— built and operated in cooperation with NASANASAThe National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
. - INTEGRALINTEGRALThe European Space Agency's INTErnational Gamma-Ray Astrophysics Laboratory is an operational Earth satellite, launched in 2002 for detecting some of the most energetic radiation that comes from space. It is the most sensitive gamma ray observatory ever launched.INTEGRAL is an ESA mission in...
— is the first space observatory that can simultaneously observe objects in gamma rays, X-rays and visible light. - Mars ExpressMars ExpressMars Express is a space exploration mission being conducted by the European Space Agency . The Mars Express mission is exploring the planet Mars, and is the first planetary mission attempted by the agency. "Express" originally referred to the speed and efficiency with which the spacecraft was...
— a space probe to MarsMarsMars is the fourth planet from the Sun in the Solar System. The planet is named after the Roman god of war, Mars. It is often described as the "Red Planet", as the iron oxide prevalent on its surface gives it a reddish appearance...
. - MetOp-A — is the first polar orbiting satellite dedicated to operational meteorology. A satellite to study temperature and humidity, wind speed and direction, ozone and other trace gases on Earth.
- Planck — The next generation Cosmic Microwave Background explorer, after COBECOBEThe COsmic Background Explorer , also referred to as Explorer 66, was a satellite dedicated to cosmology. Its goals were to investigate the cosmic microwave background radiation of the universe and provide measurements that would help shape our understanding of the cosmos.This work provided...
& WMAP. launched in may of 2009. - Proba-1 — is the technology demonstration mini-satellite launched in 2001. It is the first satellite in the PROBAPROBAPROBA is a satellite launched by ISRO in 2001 as part of the ESA's MicroSat program. This small boxlike system, with solar panel collectors on its surface, has remarkable image-making qualities. It hosts two Earth Observation instruments dubbed CHRIS and HRC...
series - Proba-2Proba-2PROBA2 is the second satellite in the European Space Agency's series of PROBA low-cost satellites that are being used to validate new spacecraft technologies while also carrying scientific instruments. PROBA2 is a small satellite developed under an ESA General Support Technology Program contract...
— the second satellite in the PROBAPROBAPROBA is a satellite launched by ISRO in 2001 as part of the ESA's MicroSat program. This small boxlike system, with solar panel collectors on its surface, has remarkable image-making qualities. It hosts two Earth Observation instruments dubbed CHRIS and HRC...
series, launched in 2009 together with SMOSSoil Moisture and Ocean Salinity satelliteThe Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity Satellite is a part of ESA's Living Planet Programme intended to provide new insights into Earth's water cycle and climate...
. - RosettaRosetta (spacecraft)Rosetta is a robotic spacecraft of the European Space Agency on a mission to study the comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko. Rosetta consists of two main elements: the Rosetta space probe and the Philae lander. The spacecraft was launched on 2 March 2004 on an Ariane 5 rocket and will reach the comet by...
— a space probe launched in 2004 that will explore comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko67P/Churyumov-GerasimenkoComet Churyumov–Gerasimenko, officially designated 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko, is a comet with a current orbital period of 6.6 years. It is the destination of the European Space Agency's Rosetta spacecraft mission, launched on March 2, 2004....
in 2014. - SOHOSolar and Heliospheric ObservatoryThe Solar and Heliospheric Observatory is a spacecraft built by a European industrial consortium led by Matra Marconi Space that was launched on a Lockheed Martin Atlas IIAS launch vehicle on December 2, 1995 to study the Sun, and has discovered over 2100 comets. It began normal operations in May...
— a space-based observatory to study the sun (together with NASANASAThe National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
). - SMOSSoil Moisture and Ocean Salinity satelliteThe Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity Satellite is a part of ESA's Living Planet Programme intended to provide new insights into Earth's water cycle and climate...
— the second Earth Explorer mission launched on November 2009 designed to measure Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity. - Venus ExpressVenus ExpressVenus Express is the first Venus exploration mission of the European Space Agency. Launched in November 2005, it arrived at Venus in April 2006 and has been continuously sending back science data from its polar orbit around Venus. Equipped with seven science instruments, the main objective of the...
— a space probe to VenusVenusVenus is the second planet from the Sun, orbiting it every 224.7 Earth days. The planet is named after Venus, the Roman goddess of love and beauty. After the Moon, it is the brightest natural object in the night sky, reaching an apparent magnitude of −4.6, bright enough to cast shadows...
which was launched in Nov 2005 and arrived in orbit around Venus in April 2006. - XMM-NewtonXMM-NewtonThe XMM-Newton is an orbiting X-ray observatory launched by ESA in December 1999 on a Ariane 5 rocket...
— an X-ray observatory satellite which participates in the Cosmic Evolution Survey.
Current projects to be launched in the near future
- ADM-AeolusADM-AeolusADM-Aeolus, or, in full, Atmospheric Dynamics Mission Aeolus, is an ESA satellite that is due for launch in 2013.ADM-Aeolus will be the first equipment capable of performing global wind-component-profile observation and will provide much-needed information to improve weather forecasting.The Aeolus...
— Due for launch in 2013 will measure global wind profiles. - BepiColomboBepiColomboBepiColombo is a joint mission of the European Space Agency and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency to the planet Mercury, due to launch in 2014. The mission is still in the planning stages so changes to the current description are likely over the next few years...
— space probe to MercuryMercury (planet)Mercury is the innermost and smallest planet in the Solar System, orbiting the Sun once every 87.969 Earth days. The orbit of Mercury has the highest eccentricity of all the Solar System planets, and it has the smallest axial tilt. It completes three rotations about its axis for every two orbits...
(together with JAXA). - Don QuijoteDon Quijote (space probe)Don Quijote is a proposed space probe under development by the European Space Agency, which would study the effects of crashing a spacecraft into an asteroid. The mission is intended to test whether a spacecraft could successfully deflect an asteroid on a collision course with Earth...
— space probe planned to test deflecting an asteroid, launch in 2013 or 2015 - ExoMarsExoMarsExoMars is a European-led robotic mission to Mars currently under development by the European Space Agency with collaboration by NASA...
— Mars spacecraft and rover to be launched 2016. - EXPERT — a flying hypersonic wind tunnel.
- Galileo positioning systemGalileo positioning systemGalileo is a global navigation satellite system currently being built by the European Union and European Space Agency . The €20 billion project is named after the famous Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei...
— a proposed satellite positioning system. - Gaia — cataloguing and astrometryAstrometryAstrometry is the branch of astronomy that involves precise measurements of the positions and movements of stars and other celestial bodies. The information obtained by astrometric measurements provides information on the kinematics and physical origin of our Solar System and our Galaxy, the Milky...
of stars in our galaxy. - James Webb Space TelescopeJames Webb Space TelescopeThe James Webb Space Telescope , previously known as Next Generation Space Telescope , is a planned next-generation space telescope, optimized for observations in the infrared. The main technical features are a large and very cold 6.5 meter diameter mirror, an observing position far from Earth,...
— planned successor to the Hubble Space TelescopeHubble Space TelescopeThe Hubble Space Telescope is a space telescope that was carried into orbit by a Space Shuttle in 1990 and remains in operation. A 2.4 meter aperture telescope in low Earth orbit, Hubble's four main instruments observe in the near ultraviolet, visible, and near infrared...
(together with NASANASAThe National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
and the Canadian Space Agency). - LISA PathfinderLISA PathfinderLISA Pathfinder is the revised name for SMART-2, a NASA/ESA space probe to be launched in June 2013. SMART stands for Small Missions for Advanced Research in Technology. The aim of the LISA Pathfinder is to test technologies needed for the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna, a joint NASA/ESA...
— aka Smart-2, technology demonstrator for the LISA missionLaser Interferometer Space AntennaThe Laser Interferometer Space Antenna is a planned space mission to detect and accurately measure gravitational waves from astronomical sources. LISA was originally conceived as a joint effort between the United States space agency NASA and the European Space Agency...
. - Proba-VProba-VPROBA-V is the fourth satellite in the European Space Agency's Proba series. The V standing for vegetation, Proba-V will fly a reduced-mass version of the Vegetation instrument currently on board the SPOT satellites to provide a daily overview of global vegetation growth.Bearing a different...
— a new satellite in the PROBAPROBAPROBA is a satellite launched by ISRO in 2001 as part of the ESA's MicroSat program. This small boxlike system, with solar panel collectors on its surface, has remarkable image-making qualities. It hosts two Earth Observation instruments dubbed CHRIS and HRC...
series, to be launched in 2012. Main objective is to observe the ground vegetation on a global scale - SwarmSwarm (ESA mission)Swarm is a European Space Agency mission to study the Earth's magnetic field.The Swarm concept consists of a constellation of three satellites in three different polar orbits between 450 and 550 km altitude...
— a satellite mission to measure Earth's magnetic field.
Future projects
- Aurora ProgrammeAurora ProgrammeThe Aurora programme is a human spaceflight programme of the European Space Agency established in 2001 with the primary objectives of creating, and then implementing, a European long-term plan for exploration of the Solar System using robotic spacecraft and human spaceflight...
— a space exploration programme for manned and unmanned exploration of MarsMarsMars is the fourth planet from the Sun in the Solar System. The planet is named after the Roman god of war, Mars. It is often described as the "Red Planet", as the iron oxide prevalent on its surface gives it a reddish appearance...
and other planets in our solar system. - Cosmic VisionCosmic VisionThe Cosmic Vision is the paraphrasing name given to the roadmap for scientific space based missions of the European Space Agency in the time frame between 2015 and 2025....
— a programme of space science missions for 2015–2025. - Crew Space Transportation SystemCSTSCSTS or ACTS is a human spaceflight system proposal. It was originally a joint project between the European Space Agency and the Russian Space Agency , but is now solely an ESA project...
(CSTS) — European-Russian counterpart of the Crew Exploration VehicleCrew Exploration VehicleThe Crew Exploration Vehicle was the conceptual component of the U.S. NASA Vision for Space Exploration that later became known as the Orion spacecraft...
. - Darwin Mission — a L2-positioned interferometer to detect Earth-sized exoplanets (to be launched between 2015–2020).
- EADS Phoenix — a next generation glider-spacecraft funded by EADSEADSThe European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company N.V. is a global pan-European aerospace and defence corporation and a leading defence and military contractor worldwide...
and Germany (a study placed within the ESA next generation spacecraft program). - EarthCAREEarthCAREEARTHCARE is a planned space mission by the European and Japanese space agencies. In May 2008 ESA signed a contract worth €263 million with EADS subsidiary Astrium. As the prime contractor, Astrium is responsible for the satellite’s design, development and integration...
- collaboration with JAXA to improve understanding of the cloud, radiative and aerosol processes that affect the Earth's climate - EuclidEuclid (spacecraft)Euclid is a planned space telescope, an M-class mission of the ESA Cosmic Vision 2020-2025, planned to be launched in 2019...
— a planned space telescope for mapping the distribution of dark matter and characterizing properties of dark energy. - Europa Jupiter System MissionEuropa Jupiter System MissionThe Europa Jupiter System Mission – Laplace was a proposed joint NASA/ESA unmanned space mission slated to launch around 2020 for the in-depth exploration of Jupiter's moons with a focus on Europa, Ganymede and Jupiter's magnetosphere...
— Known as Laplace in Europe it is a NASA/ESA joint project to send two Orbiters to study Jupiter and its moons. - FLPP — a study to evaluate potential future European launchers, reusable or expendable.
- IXVIXVThe Intermediate eXperimental Vehicle is a European Space Agency experimental re-entry vehicle intended to validate European reusable launchers which could be evaluated in the frame of the FLPP program. The IXV development would be carried out under the leadership of the NGL Prime SpA company...
— the associated reentry demonstrator to FLPP. - LISALaser Interferometer Space AntennaThe Laser Interferometer Space Antenna is a planned space mission to detect and accurately measure gravitational waves from astronomical sources. LISA was originally conceived as a joint effort between the United States space agency NASA and the European Space Agency...
— a mission to detect and study gravitational waves (together with NASA). - Mars Sample Return MissionMars Sample Return MissionA Mars sample return mission would be a spaceflight mission to collect rock and dust samples from Mars and to return them to Earth for analysis...
— a Mars probe as part of the Aurora ProgrammeAurora ProgrammeThe Aurora programme is a human spaceflight programme of the European Space Agency established in 2001 with the primary objectives of creating, and then implementing, a European long-term plan for exploration of the Solar System using robotic spacecraft and human spaceflight...
. - MoonNextMoonNextThe MoonNext Mission, also known as the ESA Lunar Lander, is a proposal by the European Space Agency to send a high capacity cargo lander to the lunar surface using a full Ariane 5 rocket. The mission would be launched from Kourou in 2018 taking a few days to transfer from Earth to a Low Circular...
— a robotic Lunar Lander. - PLATOPLATO (spacecraft)PLAnetary Transits and Oscillations of stars is a European Space Agency-proposed space observatory that will use a group of photometers to discover and characterize extrasolar planets of all sizes and kinds around cool dwarf and subgiant stars...
— a planned space telescope for detecting transiting exoplanets. - Proba-3Proba-3PROBA-3 is the third satellite mission in the European Space Agency's series of PROBA low-cost satellites that are being used to validate new spacecraft technologies while also carrying scientific instruments. Currently PROBA-3 is in its preparatory study phase...
— a mission involving 2 probaProbaProba may refer to:*Faltonia Betitia Proba, fourth-century Latin poet* Próba, Łódź Voivodeship, village in the administrative district of Gmina Brzeźnio, within Sieradz County, Łódź Voivodeship, in central Poland....
-like satellites to demonstrate formation flying. - Sentinel — a component of the Global Monitoring for Environmental and Security series of satellites for environment monitoring.
- Solar OrbiterSolar OrbiterSolar Orbiter is a planned Sun-observing satellite, under development by the European Space Agency . The main mission scenario is a launch by an Atlas V from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida in January 2017...
— an orbiter to examine the polar regions of the Sun, the project is currently in an assessment phase with a prospective launch in 2015. - Titan Saturn System MissionTitan Saturn System MissionTitan Saturn System Mission was a joint NASA/ESA proposal for an exploration of Saturn and its moons Titan and Enceladus, where many complex phenomena have been revealed by the recent Cassini–Huygens mission...
— Known as TandEM in Europe it is a Nasa/ESA joint mission to explore Saturn and its moons. - XEUSXEUSXEUS, X-ray Evolving Universe Spectroscopy, was space observatory plan developed by the European Space Agency as a successor to the successful XMM-Newton X-ray satellite telescope...
/IXO — a L2-positioned X-ray observatory to perform high-resolution X-ray spectroscopy of hot matter in the evolving universe.
Past projects
- ARDAtmospheric Reentry DemonstratorThe Advanced Reentry Demonstrator was a suborbital reentry test flown on the third Ariane 5 flight. The ARD was launched on October 21, 1998, and was released shortly after separation of the launcher's cryogenic main stage 12 minutes after lift-off from the Guiana Space Centre, Europe's spaceport...
— a testbed for reentry technologies launched in 1998. - ESA-made instruments on Chandrayaan-1 — Indian space probe to the MoonMoonThe Moon is Earth's only known natural satellite,There are a number of near-Earth asteroids including 3753 Cruithne that are co-orbital with Earth: their orbits bring them close to Earth for periods of time but then alter in the long term . These are quasi-satellites and not true moons. For more...
launched on October 2008, crashed August 2009. - Cos-BCos-BCos-B was the first European Space Research Organisation mission to study gamma-ray sources. COS-B was first put forward by the European scientific community in the mid 1960s and approved by the ESRO council in 1969. The mission consisted of a satellite containing gamma-ray detectors, which was...
— First project of ESA after foundation (in 1975). - Double Star MissionDouble Star MissionDouble Star is a joint satellite based space mission by the China National Space Administration and the European Space Agency . It is the first space mission launched by China to investigate Earth's magnetosphere. It consists of two satellites: an Equatorial satellite and Polar satellite...
— probe to study effects of the sun on Earth (in cooperation with the People's Republic of ChinaPeople's Republic of ChinaChina , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
). - ERS-1 — First Earth-observing satellite of ESA.
- EXOSATEXOSATThe European X-ray Observatory Satellite , originally named HELOS, was operational from May 1983 until April 1986 and in that time made 1780 observations in the X-ray band of most classes of astronomical object including active galactic nuclei, stellar coronae, cataclysmic variables, white dwarfs,...
— ESA's first X-ray observatory. - Giotto missionGiotto missionGiotto was a European robotic spacecraft mission from the European Space Agency, intended to fly by and study Halley's Comet. On 13 March 1986, the mission succeeded in approaching Halley's nucleus at a distance of 596 kilometers....
— First deep space mission of ESA, which went to Comet HalleyComet HalleyHalley's Comet or Comet Halley is the best-known of the short-period comets, and is visible from Earth every 75 to 76 years. Halley is the only short-period comet that is clearly visible to the naked eye from Earth, and thus the only naked-eye comet that might appear twice in a human lifetime...
. - HipparcosHipparcosHipparcos was a scientific mission of the European Space Agency , launched in 1989 and operated between 1989 and 1993. It was the first space experiment devoted to precision astrometry, the accurate measurement of the positions of celestial objects on the sky...
— A space-based astrometryAstrometryAstrometry is the branch of astronomy that involves precise measurements of the positions and movements of stars and other celestial bodies. The information obtained by astrometric measurements provides information on the kinematics and physical origin of our Solar System and our Galaxy, the Milky...
mission. - Huygens probeHuygens probeThe Huygens probe was an atmospheric entry probe carried to Saturn's moon Titan as part of the Cassini–Huygens mission. The probe was supplied by the European Space Agency and named after the Dutch 17th century astronomer Christiaan Huygens....
— A space probe to SaturnSaturnSaturn is the sixth planet from the Sun and the second largest planet in the Solar System, after Jupiter. Saturn is named after the Roman god Saturn, equated to the Greek Cronus , the Babylonian Ninurta and the Hindu Shani. Saturn's astronomical symbol represents the Roman god's sickle.Saturn,...
's moon TitanTitan (moon)Titan , or Saturn VI, is the largest moon of Saturn, the only natural satellite known to have a dense atmosphere, and the only object other than Earth for which clear evidence of stable bodies of surface liquid has been found....
. - ISOInfrared Space ObservatoryThe Infrared Space Observatory was a space telescope for infrared light designed and operated by the European Space Agency , in cooperation with ISAS and NASA...
— Infrared Space Observatory. - IUEInternational Ultraviolet ExplorerThe International Ultraviolet Explorer was an astronomical observatory satellite primarily designed to take ultraviolet spectra. The satellite was a collaborative project between NASA, the UK Science Research Council and the European Space Agency...
— Ultraviolet astronomical space observatory in cooperation with NASANASAThe National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
. - SMART 1 — A lunar spaceprobe testing new propulsion technology.
- Ulysses — A probe launched in 1990 to study the Sun's north and south poles.
- YES2 — a young engineers' satellite to demonstrate the use of tethers for injection into re-entry orbit of the first students re-entry capsule ever.
Cancelled projects
- Eddington missionEddington missionThe Eddington mission was a European Space Agency project that planned to search for Earth-like planets. It was named for Arthur Eddington, a noted physicist who translated Einstein's work. It was originally planned for operation in 2008, but was delayed...
- Hermes
- HopperHopper (spacecraft)Hopper was a proposed European Space Agency orbital and reusable launch vehicle. The shuttle prototype spaceplane was one of several proposals for a European reusable launch vehicle planned to cheaply ferry satellites into orbit by 2015...