ESA Operations
@operations.esa.int
From Earth orbit to deep space: sharing the excitement of real-time mission operations at the European Space Agency. Home for ESA's teams working on Planetary Defence, Space Weather, Clean Space & Space Debris.
esa.int/Operations
esa.int/Space_Safety
esa.int/Operations
esa.int/Space_Safety
Full speed ahead to Apophis! 🚀🪨
ESA has awarded two contracts for the development of its Ramses mission, which will rendezvous with the asteroid Apophis ahead of its once-in-a-millennium flyby of Earth in 2029.
www.esa.int/Space_Safety...
ESA has awarded two contracts for the development of its Ramses mission, which will rendezvous with the asteroid Apophis ahead of its once-in-a-millennium flyby of Earth in 2029.
www.esa.int/Space_Safety...
ESA awards contracts for Ramses mission to Apophis
On 10 February 2026, the European Space Agency (ESA) signed a contract with OHB Italia for the development of the Rapid Apophis Mission for Space Safety (Ramses). Launching in 2028, Ramses will rendez...
www.esa.int
February 10, 2026 at 3:32 PM
Full speed ahead to Apophis! 🚀🪨
ESA has awarded two contracts for the development of its Ramses mission, which will rendezvous with the asteroid Apophis ahead of its once-in-a-millennium flyby of Earth in 2029.
www.esa.int/Space_Safety...
ESA has awarded two contracts for the development of its Ramses mission, which will rendezvous with the asteroid Apophis ahead of its once-in-a-millennium flyby of Earth in 2029.
www.esa.int/Space_Safety...
Reposted by ESA Operations
🥳A successful workshop with lots of discussions on various subjects concerning #SpaceWeather, development & future service improvements, and more....
😍The onsite participants at @esa.int SWE Service Network Workshop group photo!
❤️ A big thank you to all the participants and the organisers!
😍The onsite participants at @esa.int SWE Service Network Workshop group photo!
❤️ A big thank you to all the participants and the organisers!
February 5, 2026 at 8:22 AM
🥳A successful workshop with lots of discussions on various subjects concerning #SpaceWeather, development & future service improvements, and more....
😍The onsite participants at @esa.int SWE Service Network Workshop group photo!
❤️ A big thank you to all the participants and the organisers!
😍The onsite participants at @esa.int SWE Service Network Workshop group photo!
❤️ A big thank you to all the participants and the organisers!
Fun fact: we recently moved two satellites to meet a plane. Why? For valuable scientific data on atmospheric reentries.
Find out more about the why & how 👉 www.esa.int/Space_Safety...
Find out more about the why & how 👉 www.esa.int/Space_Safety...
Moving satellites to meet a plane for rare reentry data
When satellites eventually fall back down to Earth, they mostly burn up because of the friction caused by the atmosphere. Scientific data about this atmospheric reentry process is urgently needed to d...
www.esa.int
February 3, 2026 at 9:30 AM
Fun fact: we recently moved two satellites to meet a plane. Why? For valuable scientific data on atmospheric reentries.
Find out more about the why & how 👉 www.esa.int/Space_Safety...
Find out more about the why & how 👉 www.esa.int/Space_Safety...
Reposted by ESA Operations
🚨2 X flares, X1.0 and X8.1!!
Measured by GOES in the product GOES alerts from SIDC. 👉 swe.ssa.esa.int/web/guest/si...
The X flares were observed in the AR 4366/SIDC 784👇
Measured by GOES in the product GOES alerts from SIDC. 👉 swe.ssa.esa.int/web/guest/si...
The X flares were observed in the AR 4366/SIDC 784👇
February 2, 2026 at 8:26 AM
🚨2 X flares, X1.0 and X8.1!!
Measured by GOES in the product GOES alerts from SIDC. 👉 swe.ssa.esa.int/web/guest/si...
The X flares were observed in the AR 4366/SIDC 784👇
Measured by GOES in the product GOES alerts from SIDC. 👉 swe.ssa.esa.int/web/guest/si...
The X flares were observed in the AR 4366/SIDC 784👇
Reposted by ESA Operations
ESA Council approved Laurent Jaffart as Director of the new Resilience, Navigation & Connectivity Directorate.
This new position reflects our commitment to bolstering resilience and enhancing navigation and connectivity in line with security and defence priorities.
www.esa.int/Newsroom/Pre...
This new position reflects our commitment to bolstering resilience and enhancing navigation and connectivity in line with security and defence priorities.
www.esa.int/Newsroom/Pre...
ESA Council has approved Laurent Jaffart as the Director of the newly created Resilience, Navigation and Connectivity Directorate.
This new position reflects our commitment to bolstering resilience… ...
ESA Council has approved Laurent Jaffart as the Director of the newly created Resilience, Navigation and Connectivity Directorate.
This new position reflects our commitment to bolstering resilience a...
www.linkedin.com
January 30, 2026 at 11:15 AM
ESA Council approved Laurent Jaffart as Director of the new Resilience, Navigation & Connectivity Directorate.
This new position reflects our commitment to bolstering resilience and enhancing navigation and connectivity in line with security and defence priorities.
www.esa.int/Newsroom/Pre...
This new position reflects our commitment to bolstering resilience and enhancing navigation and connectivity in line with security and defence priorities.
www.esa.int/Newsroom/Pre...
Reposted by ESA Operations
🧐 Interested in the #SpaceWeather activity these days?
You can register to the @esa.int SWE Service Network Portal here 👉 swe.ssa.esa.int/registration/
Do you have any feedback when using the ESA SWE Portal?
📝We have a survey here for you 👇
🌐 swe.ssa.esa.int/user-feedback
You can register to the @esa.int SWE Service Network Portal here 👉 swe.ssa.esa.int/registration/
Do you have any feedback when using the ESA SWE Portal?
📝We have a survey here for you 👇
🌐 swe.ssa.esa.int/user-feedback
swe.ssa.esa.int
January 22, 2026 at 2:17 PM
🧐 Interested in the #SpaceWeather activity these days?
You can register to the @esa.int SWE Service Network Portal here 👉 swe.ssa.esa.int/registration/
Do you have any feedback when using the ESA SWE Portal?
📝We have a survey here for you 👇
🌐 swe.ssa.esa.int/user-feedback
You can register to the @esa.int SWE Service Network Portal here 👉 swe.ssa.esa.int/registration/
Do you have any feedback when using the ESA SWE Portal?
📝We have a survey here for you 👇
🌐 swe.ssa.esa.int/user-feedback
Reposted by ESA Operations
Ever wondered what powers a solar flare? 💥
Solar Orbiter is finally giving us answers to this long-standing mystery.
The mission caught a 'magnetic avalanche' on the surface of the Sun just before a flare was released.
🔭🧪1/3
Solar Orbiter is finally giving us answers to this long-standing mystery.
The mission caught a 'magnetic avalanche' on the surface of the Sun just before a flare was released.
🔭🧪1/3
January 21, 2026 at 8:16 AM
Ever wondered what powers a solar flare? 💥
Solar Orbiter is finally giving us answers to this long-standing mystery.
The mission caught a 'magnetic avalanche' on the surface of the Sun just before a flare was released.
🔭🧪1/3
Solar Orbiter is finally giving us answers to this long-standing mystery.
The mission caught a 'magnetic avalanche' on the surface of the Sun just before a flare was released.
🔭🧪1/3
ESA is closely monitoring a notable space weather event, first detected at 18:09 UTC on 18 January 2026.
Aurora were observed over Europe last night and continued high levels of space weather activity are anticipated over the coming days.
www.esa.int/Space_Safety...
@esaspaceweather.esa.int
Aurora were observed over Europe last night and continued high levels of space weather activity are anticipated over the coming days.
www.esa.int/Space_Safety...
@esaspaceweather.esa.int
ESA monitoring January 2026 space weather event
The European Space Agency’s (ESA) Space Weather Office is closely monitoring a notable space weather event, first detected 18:09 UTC on Sunday, 18 January 2026. We are collecting detailed information ...
www.esa.int
January 20, 2026 at 1:18 PM
ESA is closely monitoring a notable space weather event, first detected at 18:09 UTC on 18 January 2026.
Aurora were observed over Europe last night and continued high levels of space weather activity are anticipated over the coming days.
www.esa.int/Space_Safety...
@esaspaceweather.esa.int
Aurora were observed over Europe last night and continued high levels of space weather activity are anticipated over the coming days.
www.esa.int/Space_Safety...
@esaspaceweather.esa.int
Reposted by ESA Operations
Beautiful aurora seen last night during high geomagnetic activity❗
Automatic auroral recognition routine classifying All-Sky Camera images acquired at the Kevo station in Northern Finland by FMI as a demonstration product👇
🌐 swe.ssa.esa.int/fmi-federated
Automatic auroral recognition routine classifying All-Sky Camera images acquired at the Kevo station in Northern Finland by FMI as a demonstration product👇
🌐 swe.ssa.esa.int/fmi-federated
January 20, 2026 at 11:11 AM
Beautiful aurora seen last night during high geomagnetic activity❗
Automatic auroral recognition routine classifying All-Sky Camera images acquired at the Kevo station in Northern Finland by FMI as a demonstration product👇
🌐 swe.ssa.esa.int/fmi-federated
Automatic auroral recognition routine classifying All-Sky Camera images acquired at the Kevo station in Northern Finland by FMI as a demonstration product👇
🌐 swe.ssa.esa.int/fmi-federated
It's known as a POTentially ATtacking Object. And it's vital that we keep our eyes peeled for such space hazards.
January 20, 2026 at 9:17 AM
It's known as a POTentially ATtacking Object. And it's vital that we keep our eyes peeled for such space hazards.
Reposted by ESA Operations
👀 Our eyes on the Sun’s inner corona, that’s Proba-3! In a 5-hour window, the formation-flying mission captured not 1… not 2… but 3 solar prominence eruptions – structures made of relatively cold plasma extending outwards from the Sun ☀️👉 www.esa.int/ESA_Multimed...
January 19, 2026 at 10:55 AM
👀 Our eyes on the Sun’s inner corona, that’s Proba-3! In a 5-hour window, the formation-flying mission captured not 1… not 2… but 3 solar prominence eruptions – structures made of relatively cold plasma extending outwards from the Sun ☀️👉 www.esa.int/ESA_Multimed...
Fifth poster in our series: "Space Safety - in action!"
Mission: Flyeye telescopes
Objective: Autonomously scan the night sky for potentially hazardous asteroids
Unique feature: Insect-inspired design provides ultra-wide field of view
Operational: 2027
Download at: esa.int/space-safety/in-action
Mission: Flyeye telescopes
Objective: Autonomously scan the night sky for potentially hazardous asteroids
Unique feature: Insect-inspired design provides ultra-wide field of view
Operational: 2027
Download at: esa.int/space-safety/in-action
January 19, 2026 at 10:37 AM
Fifth poster in our series: "Space Safety - in action!"
Mission: Flyeye telescopes
Objective: Autonomously scan the night sky for potentially hazardous asteroids
Unique feature: Insect-inspired design provides ultra-wide field of view
Operational: 2027
Download at: esa.int/space-safety/in-action
Mission: Flyeye telescopes
Objective: Autonomously scan the night sky for potentially hazardous asteroids
Unique feature: Insect-inspired design provides ultra-wide field of view
Operational: 2027
Download at: esa.int/space-safety/in-action
During solar conjunction season 🔴☀️🌍, ESOC teams guide @esa.int’s Mars Express and ExoMars TGO through the quiet zone: an orbital blackout where radio communications drop to bare‑bones housekeeping data and quick daily check-ins—keeping Mars missions safe in the Sun’s glare 🛰️.
There is a blackout between Mars and Earth, and the Sun is to blame. 🔴⚫️🌍
🌞 Once every 25 months, our star passes between these two planets. The alignment is called solar conjunction.
🔇 While the Sun blocks our view of Mars until 21 January, communication with our martian orbiters falls silent.
🌞 Once every 25 months, our star passes between these two planets. The alignment is called solar conjunction.
🔇 While the Sun blocks our view of Mars until 21 January, communication with our martian orbiters falls silent.
January 16, 2026 at 9:45 AM
During solar conjunction season 🔴☀️🌍, ESOC teams guide @esa.int’s Mars Express and ExoMars TGO through the quiet zone: an orbital blackout where radio communications drop to bare‑bones housekeeping data and quick daily check-ins—keeping Mars missions safe in the Sun’s glare 🛰️.
Fourth poster in our series: "Space Safety - in action!"
Mission: Draco
Objective: Understand what exactly happens to a satellite during atmospheric reentry
Unique feature: First mission to study reentry from inside a real satellite break-up
Launch: 2027
Download at: esa.int/space-safety/in-action
Mission: Draco
Objective: Understand what exactly happens to a satellite during atmospheric reentry
Unique feature: First mission to study reentry from inside a real satellite break-up
Launch: 2027
Download at: esa.int/space-safety/in-action
January 15, 2026 at 1:35 PM
Fourth poster in our series: "Space Safety - in action!"
Mission: Draco
Objective: Understand what exactly happens to a satellite during atmospheric reentry
Unique feature: First mission to study reentry from inside a real satellite break-up
Launch: 2027
Download at: esa.int/space-safety/in-action
Mission: Draco
Objective: Understand what exactly happens to a satellite during atmospheric reentry
Unique feature: First mission to study reentry from inside a real satellite break-up
Launch: 2027
Download at: esa.int/space-safety/in-action
In 2025, 10 asteroids were named after people and places associated with @esa.int's efforts to discover, monitor, explore and keep Earth safe from asteroids.
Well done Planetary Defence team, you rock! 😉☄️
www.esa.int/Space_Safety...
Well done Planetary Defence team, you rock! 😉☄️
www.esa.int/Space_Safety...
January 13, 2026 at 1:04 PM
In 2025, 10 asteroids were named after people and places associated with @esa.int's efforts to discover, monitor, explore and keep Earth safe from asteroids.
Well done Planetary Defence team, you rock! 😉☄️
www.esa.int/Space_Safety...
Well done Planetary Defence team, you rock! 😉☄️
www.esa.int/Space_Safety...
Reposted by ESA Operations
Our #MarsExpress has spotted martian winds whipping up sand grains and acting as a cosmic sandblaster, carving our intriguing grooves in the Red Planet's surface.
More info, images and zoom in 👉 www.esa.int/Science_Expl...
🔭 🧪
More info, images and zoom in 👉 www.esa.int/Science_Expl...
🔭 🧪
January 7, 2026 at 10:04 AM
Our #MarsExpress has spotted martian winds whipping up sand grains and acting as a cosmic sandblaster, carving our intriguing grooves in the Red Planet's surface.
More info, images and zoom in 👉 www.esa.int/Science_Expl...
🔭 🧪
More info, images and zoom in 👉 www.esa.int/Science_Expl...
🔭 🧪
Third poster in our series: "Space Safety - in action!"
Mission: Ramses
Objective: Intercept and explore the asteroid Apophis as it passes Earth in 2029
Unique feature: Ramses capitalises on a one-in-7000-year scientific opportunity
Launch: 2028
Download at: esa.int/space-safety/in-action
Mission: Ramses
Objective: Intercept and explore the asteroid Apophis as it passes Earth in 2029
Unique feature: Ramses capitalises on a one-in-7000-year scientific opportunity
Launch: 2028
Download at: esa.int/space-safety/in-action
December 19, 2025 at 8:55 AM
Third poster in our series: "Space Safety - in action!"
Mission: Ramses
Objective: Intercept and explore the asteroid Apophis as it passes Earth in 2029
Unique feature: Ramses capitalises on a one-in-7000-year scientific opportunity
Launch: 2028
Download at: esa.int/space-safety/in-action
Mission: Ramses
Objective: Intercept and explore the asteroid Apophis as it passes Earth in 2029
Unique feature: Ramses capitalises on a one-in-7000-year scientific opportunity
Launch: 2028
Download at: esa.int/space-safety/in-action
Reposted by ESA Operations
#XRISM joins the crew of telescopes observing comet 3I/ATLAS.
The image shows X-rays coming from a region of around 400 000 km around the comet nucleus. These X-rays could be generated by the interaction of the solar wind with gases from the comet.
Read more 👉 www.esa.int/ESA_Multimed...
🔭
The image shows X-rays coming from a region of around 400 000 km around the comet nucleus. These X-rays could be generated by the interaction of the solar wind with gases from the comet.
Read more 👉 www.esa.int/ESA_Multimed...
🔭
December 16, 2025 at 10:03 AM
#XRISM joins the crew of telescopes observing comet 3I/ATLAS.
The image shows X-rays coming from a region of around 400 000 km around the comet nucleus. These X-rays could be generated by the interaction of the solar wind with gases from the comet.
Read more 👉 www.esa.int/ESA_Multimed...
🔭
The image shows X-rays coming from a region of around 400 000 km around the comet nucleus. These X-rays could be generated by the interaction of the solar wind with gases from the comet.
Read more 👉 www.esa.int/ESA_Multimed...
🔭
🛫 ☀️ When the Sun disrupts aviation
Did you know that #SpaceWeather can affect flights in surprising ways?
One phenomenon gaining attention is the impact of energetic charged particles - originating from our Sun and even distant stars - on aircraft electronics.
www.esa.int/Space_Safety...
Did you know that #SpaceWeather can affect flights in surprising ways?
One phenomenon gaining attention is the impact of energetic charged particles - originating from our Sun and even distant stars - on aircraft electronics.
www.esa.int/Space_Safety...
December 15, 2025 at 4:24 PM
🛫 ☀️ When the Sun disrupts aviation
Did you know that #SpaceWeather can affect flights in surprising ways?
One phenomenon gaining attention is the impact of energetic charged particles - originating from our Sun and even distant stars - on aircraft electronics.
www.esa.int/Space_Safety...
Did you know that #SpaceWeather can affect flights in surprising ways?
One phenomenon gaining attention is the impact of energetic charged particles - originating from our Sun and even distant stars - on aircraft electronics.
www.esa.int/Space_Safety...
Reposted by ESA Operations
Our XMM-Newton has observed comet 3I/ATLAS in X-ray light!
When gas molecules streaming from a comet collide with the solar wind they produce X-rays, seen here as the red glow of 3I/ATLAS 👉 www.esa.int/ESA_Multimed...
Blue marks empty space with little X-rays. The black line is a detector gap 🔭 🧪
When gas molecules streaming from a comet collide with the solar wind they produce X-rays, seen here as the red glow of 3I/ATLAS 👉 www.esa.int/ESA_Multimed...
Blue marks empty space with little X-rays. The black line is a detector gap 🔭 🧪
![This image shows an X-ray view of interstellar comet 3I ATLAS, captured by ESA’s XMM-Newton spacecraft. At the centre of the image, a bright red spot stands out against a dark background, like a fiery beacon. Starting from this core, faint gradients of purple and blue spread outward, creating a slightly rotated rectangular frame, divided by a thin horizontal line. The red colour shows low-energy X-rays, blue marks empty space with very few X-rays. A yellow arrow labelled “Sun” points left, indicating the comet’s orientation in the Solar System. At the bottom right, a scale marker reads “5 arcmin”, providing a sense of spatial dimension.]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:p5h5ai6lj6bc53b7mmvy3rf2/bafkreicot2eitpk5sa6jclrhzqsrrpa5dxwb7dwomik2zs66b3ye37jst4@jpeg)
December 12, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Our XMM-Newton has observed comet 3I/ATLAS in X-ray light!
When gas molecules streaming from a comet collide with the solar wind they produce X-rays, seen here as the red glow of 3I/ATLAS 👉 www.esa.int/ESA_Multimed...
Blue marks empty space with little X-rays. The black line is a detector gap 🔭 🧪
When gas molecules streaming from a comet collide with the solar wind they produce X-rays, seen here as the red glow of 3I/ATLAS 👉 www.esa.int/ESA_Multimed...
Blue marks empty space with little X-rays. The black line is a detector gap 🔭 🧪
What really happens to a satellite during a fiery reentry into the atmosphere? ESA’s Draco will find out! 🛰️🐦🔥 Check out the trailer for our Space Safety mission 'built for destruction'.
More on Draco 👉 www.esa.int/ESA_Multimed...
More on Draco 👉 www.esa.int/ESA_Multimed...
December 12, 2025 at 1:25 PM
What really happens to a satellite during a fiery reentry into the atmosphere? ESA’s Draco will find out! 🛰️🐦🔥 Check out the trailer for our Space Safety mission 'built for destruction'.
More on Draco 👉 www.esa.int/ESA_Multimed...
More on Draco 👉 www.esa.int/ESA_Multimed...
Reposted by ESA Operations
From a scorching closest approach to the Sun, to a flight past Venus for a gravity boost – 2025 has been quite a year for our #ESAJuice!
Tune in to the latest episode of 'The journey of Juice' to go behind the scenes with the people working on the mission 👇
🔭 🧪
Tune in to the latest episode of 'The journey of Juice' to go behind the scenes with the people working on the mission 👇
🔭 🧪
Turning up the heat | The journey of Juice (episode 2)
YouTube video by European Space Agency, ESA
www.youtube.com
December 11, 2025 at 1:35 PM
From a scorching closest approach to the Sun, to a flight past Venus for a gravity boost – 2025 has been quite a year for our #ESAJuice!
Tune in to the latest episode of 'The journey of Juice' to go behind the scenes with the people working on the mission 👇
🔭 🧪
Tune in to the latest episode of 'The journey of Juice' to go behind the scenes with the people working on the mission 👇
🔭 🧪
Second poster in our series: "Space Safety - in action!"
Mission: RISE
Objective: Extend the lifetime of a satellite in geostationary orbit
Unique feature: After initial demo, D-Orbit will continue to operate RISE as a commercial service
Launch: 2029
Download at: esa.int/space-safety/in-action
Mission: RISE
Objective: Extend the lifetime of a satellite in geostationary orbit
Unique feature: After initial demo, D-Orbit will continue to operate RISE as a commercial service
Launch: 2029
Download at: esa.int/space-safety/in-action
December 11, 2025 at 11:18 AM
Second poster in our series: "Space Safety - in action!"
Mission: RISE
Objective: Extend the lifetime of a satellite in geostationary orbit
Unique feature: After initial demo, D-Orbit will continue to operate RISE as a commercial service
Launch: 2029
Download at: esa.int/space-safety/in-action
Mission: RISE
Objective: Extend the lifetime of a satellite in geostationary orbit
Unique feature: After initial demo, D-Orbit will continue to operate RISE as a commercial service
Launch: 2029
Download at: esa.int/space-safety/in-action
Check out the first poster in our new series: "Space Safety - in action!"
Mission: Vigil
Objective: Advanced warning of solar storms
Unique feature: Location in deep space offers 'side-on' view of solar material heading towards Earth
Launch: 2031
Download the poster at:
www.esa.int/Space_Safety...
Mission: Vigil
Objective: Advanced warning of solar storms
Unique feature: Location in deep space offers 'side-on' view of solar material heading towards Earth
Launch: 2031
Download the poster at:
www.esa.int/Space_Safety...
December 8, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Check out the first poster in our new series: "Space Safety - in action!"
Mission: Vigil
Objective: Advanced warning of solar storms
Unique feature: Location in deep space offers 'side-on' view of solar material heading towards Earth
Launch: 2031
Download the poster at:
www.esa.int/Space_Safety...
Mission: Vigil
Objective: Advanced warning of solar storms
Unique feature: Location in deep space offers 'side-on' view of solar material heading towards Earth
Launch: 2031
Download the poster at:
www.esa.int/Space_Safety...
📡 2025 marked a landmark year for #Estrack, ESA’s global network of ground stations.
Since its inception in 1975, Estrack has formed a vital communication bridge between satellites in orbit and mission control at the European Space Operations Centre (ESOC).
www.esa.int/About_Us/ESA...
Since its inception in 1975, Estrack has formed a vital communication bridge between satellites in orbit and mission control at the European Space Operations Centre (ESOC).
www.esa.int/About_Us/ESA...
December 2, 2025 at 10:06 AM
📡 2025 marked a landmark year for #Estrack, ESA’s global network of ground stations.
Since its inception in 1975, Estrack has formed a vital communication bridge between satellites in orbit and mission control at the European Space Operations Centre (ESOC).
www.esa.int/About_Us/ESA...
Since its inception in 1975, Estrack has formed a vital communication bridge between satellites in orbit and mission control at the European Space Operations Centre (ESOC).
www.esa.int/About_Us/ESA...