European Space History
@eurospacehistory.bsky.social
Enjoying the history of the European space adventure. Continuing from @ESA_History on X
See our other channels: https://linktr.ee/european_space_history
See our other channels: https://linktr.ee/european_space_history
Pinned
This year, 2025, we're celebrating the 50th anniversary of the creation of #ESA, the European Space Agency. To mark this, every week for the next 50 weeks, we're going to post an image of a key event or project for each of the 50 years of ESA's history! Here comes #50YearsOfESA!
#ThisWeek in 2014, 23 November, Italian ESA astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti was launched on her first spaceflight. With @astroterry.bsky.social and Anton Shkaplerov, she joined Expedition 42 on the ISS.
www.esa.int/Science_Expl... @ita.esa.int @exploration.esa.int @aseastronauts.bsky.social
www.esa.int/Science_Expl... @ita.esa.int @exploration.esa.int @aseastronauts.bsky.social
November 25, 2025 at 4:57 PM
#ThisWeek in 2014, 23 November, Italian ESA astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti was launched on her first spaceflight. With @astroterry.bsky.social and Anton Shkaplerov, she joined Expedition 42 on the ISS.
www.esa.int/Science_Expl... @ita.esa.int @exploration.esa.int @aseastronauts.bsky.social
www.esa.int/Science_Expl... @ita.esa.int @exploration.esa.int @aseastronauts.bsky.social
#ThisWeek in 2022, 23 November, ESA announced its latest class of European astronauts: five career astronauts and 12 who became part of the ESA astronaut reserve.
@astro-slawosz.bsky.social @astromeganne.bsky.social @soph-astro.esa.int
@astro-slawosz.bsky.social @astromeganne.bsky.social @soph-astro.esa.int
ESA presents new generation of astronauts
The European Space Agency has chosen 17 individuals to form its newest astronaut class from more than 22 500 applicants from across its Member States. The ESA astronaut class 2022 includes f...
www.esa.int
November 25, 2025 at 4:29 PM
#ThisWeek in 2022, 23 November, ESA announced its latest class of European astronauts: five career astronauts and 12 who became part of the ESA astronaut reserve.
@astro-slawosz.bsky.social @astromeganne.bsky.social @soph-astro.esa.int
@astro-slawosz.bsky.social @astromeganne.bsky.social @soph-astro.esa.int
#50YearsofESA
#2022
Launched in November 2022, Artemis I was the uncrewed first mission of NASA's Artemis programme that tested the Orion spacecraft (powered by ESA's European Service Module) and the Space Launch System rocket on a flight around the Moon and back to Earth.
#2022
Launched in November 2022, Artemis I was the uncrewed first mission of NASA's Artemis programme that tested the Orion spacecraft (powered by ESA's European Service Module) and the Space Launch System rocket on a flight around the Moon and back to Earth.
November 25, 2025 at 3:48 PM
#50YearsofESA
#2022
Launched in November 2022, Artemis I was the uncrewed first mission of NASA's Artemis programme that tested the Orion spacecraft (powered by ESA's European Service Module) and the Space Launch System rocket on a flight around the Moon and back to Earth.
#2022
Launched in November 2022, Artemis I was the uncrewed first mission of NASA's Artemis programme that tested the Orion spacecraft (powered by ESA's European Service Module) and the Space Launch System rocket on a flight around the Moon and back to Earth.
Reposted by European Space History
Interview with Dutch European Space Agency Astronaut André Kuipers.
thearmchairastronaut.co.uk/reviews/f/an...
@esa.int
thearmchairastronaut.co.uk/reviews/f/an...
@esa.int
André Kuipers: Awareness, Not Fear
When Dutch ESA astronaut André Kuipers speaks about spaceflight, he does so with the combined authority of a medical professional, a veteran of two long-duration ISS missions, and someone who has spen...
thearmchairastronaut.co.uk
November 21, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Interview with Dutch European Space Agency Astronaut André Kuipers.
thearmchairastronaut.co.uk/reviews/f/an...
@esa.int
thearmchairastronaut.co.uk/reviews/f/an...
@esa.int
Reposted by European Space History
Have you checked out the latest reviews and interviews from The Armchair Astronaut?
thearmchairastronaut.co.uk/reviews
thearmchairastronaut.co.uk/reviews
October 26, 2025 at 7:22 PM
Have you checked out the latest reviews and interviews from The Armchair Astronaut?
thearmchairastronaut.co.uk/reviews
thearmchairastronaut.co.uk/reviews
Reposted by European Space History
The word rocket comes from the Italian "rochetta", a spindle for winding thread 🧵🚀
Italy 🇮🇹 contributes 7.7% of the funding of the #Ariane6 programme, delivering these components that make up Europe's heavy-lift rocket.
www.esa.int/Enabling_Sup...
Italy 🇮🇹 contributes 7.7% of the funding of the #Ariane6 programme, delivering these components that make up Europe's heavy-lift rocket.
www.esa.int/Enabling_Sup...
November 21, 2025 at 2:15 PM
The word rocket comes from the Italian "rochetta", a spindle for winding thread 🧵🚀
Italy 🇮🇹 contributes 7.7% of the funding of the #Ariane6 programme, delivering these components that make up Europe's heavy-lift rocket.
www.esa.int/Enabling_Sup...
Italy 🇮🇹 contributes 7.7% of the funding of the #Ariane6 programme, delivering these components that make up Europe's heavy-lift rocket.
www.esa.int/Enabling_Sup...
😎 While space ministers plan for the future next week at ESA's Ministerial Council #CM25 on 26-27 November, #ESAarchives look back to the beginnings of ESA and its first Ministerial Council.
November 21, 2025 at 1:52 PM
😎 While space ministers plan for the future next week at ESA's Ministerial Council #CM25 on 26-27 November, #ESAarchives look back to the beginnings of ESA and its first Ministerial Council.
#50YearsOfESA
#2021
The NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope was launched on Ariane 5 VA256 by Arianespace on behalf of ESA from Europe’s Spaceport on 25 December 2021. #SpaceHistory #Space #History #ScienceHistory
@transport.esa.int @cnes.fr @science.esa.int @stsci.edu
#2021
The NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope was launched on Ariane 5 VA256 by Arianespace on behalf of ESA from Europe’s Spaceport on 25 December 2021. #SpaceHistory #Space #History #ScienceHistory
@transport.esa.int @cnes.fr @science.esa.int @stsci.edu
November 20, 2025 at 2:04 PM
#50YearsOfESA
#2021
The NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope was launched on Ariane 5 VA256 by Arianespace on behalf of ESA from Europe’s Spaceport on 25 December 2021. #SpaceHistory #Space #History #ScienceHistory
@transport.esa.int @cnes.fr @science.esa.int @stsci.edu
#2021
The NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope was launched on Ariane 5 VA256 by Arianespace on behalf of ESA from Europe’s Spaceport on 25 December 2021. #SpaceHistory #Space #History #ScienceHistory
@transport.esa.int @cnes.fr @science.esa.int @stsci.edu
#OTD: 20 November 1998, #Zarya, the first component of the International Space Station, was launched, starting a new era of human exploration of space (Zarya = 'functional cargo block' for initial propulsion and power for the future Space Station).
www.esa.int/Science_Expl... @exploration.esa.int
www.esa.int/Science_Expl... @exploration.esa.int
November 20, 2025 at 1:21 PM
#OTD: 20 November 1998, #Zarya, the first component of the International Space Station, was launched, starting a new era of human exploration of space (Zarya = 'functional cargo block' for initial propulsion and power for the future Space Station).
www.esa.int/Science_Expl... @exploration.esa.int
www.esa.int/Science_Expl... @exploration.esa.int
#50YearsOfESA
#2020
Solar Orbiter was launched on 10 February 2020. An ESA mission with NASA participation, Solar Orbiter is the most complex scientific mission ever sent to our Sun, taking the closest images than any spacecraft before and the first to study our star's polar regions up close 🧪🔭
#2020
Solar Orbiter was launched on 10 February 2020. An ESA mission with NASA participation, Solar Orbiter is the most complex scientific mission ever sent to our Sun, taking the closest images than any spacecraft before and the first to study our star's polar regions up close 🧪🔭
November 20, 2025 at 1:00 PM
#50YearsOfESA
#2020
Solar Orbiter was launched on 10 February 2020. An ESA mission with NASA participation, Solar Orbiter is the most complex scientific mission ever sent to our Sun, taking the closest images than any spacecraft before and the first to study our star's polar regions up close 🧪🔭
#2020
Solar Orbiter was launched on 10 February 2020. An ESA mission with NASA participation, Solar Orbiter is the most complex scientific mission ever sent to our Sun, taking the closest images than any spacecraft before and the first to study our star's polar regions up close 🧪🔭
Reposted by European Space History
#HappyBirthday to ASE member Jean-François Clervoy, who flew to space three times between 1994 and 1999 (STS-66, STS-84, and STS-103), including as part of a trip to Mir!
November 19, 2025 at 4:30 PM
#HappyBirthday to ASE member Jean-François Clervoy, who flew to space three times between 1994 and 1999 (STS-66, STS-84, and STS-103), including as part of a trip to Mir!
#OTD: 16 November 2022, @esa.int and NASA headed back to the #Moon together, with the launch of #Artemis I and NASA’s Orion spacecraft powered by the first European Service Module, from Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
www.esa.int/Science_Expl... #ForwardToTheMoon
www.esa.int/Science_Expl... #ForwardToTheMoon
November 16, 2025 at 4:31 PM
#OTD: 16 November 2022, @esa.int and NASA headed back to the #Moon together, with the launch of #Artemis I and NASA’s Orion spacecraft powered by the first European Service Module, from Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
www.esa.int/Science_Expl... #ForwardToTheMoon
www.esa.int/Science_Expl... #ForwardToTheMoon
Reposted by European Space History
24 years ago at ESA Ministerial Council 2001👇
A visionary plan for Europe’s satcomms took shape, including approval of the Alphasat mission for fast connectivity and mobile services.
As #CM25 approaches, our ambition is unchanged: meeting Europe’s connectivity needs and strengthening its autonomy🌐
A visionary plan for Europe’s satcomms took shape, including approval of the Alphasat mission for fast connectivity and mobile services.
As #CM25 approaches, our ambition is unchanged: meeting Europe’s connectivity needs and strengthening its autonomy🌐
November 14, 2025 at 2:31 PM
24 years ago at ESA Ministerial Council 2001👇
A visionary plan for Europe’s satcomms took shape, including approval of the Alphasat mission for fast connectivity and mobile services.
As #CM25 approaches, our ambition is unchanged: meeting Europe’s connectivity needs and strengthening its autonomy🌐
A visionary plan for Europe’s satcomms took shape, including approval of the Alphasat mission for fast connectivity and mobile services.
As #CM25 approaches, our ambition is unchanged: meeting Europe’s connectivity needs and strengthening its autonomy🌐
#OnThisDay 2️⃣5️⃣ years ago: 14 November 2000, #Portugal deposited its Instrument of Accession to the ESA Convention, making it @esa.int's 15th Member State.
www.esa.int/About_Us/Cor...
www.esa.int/About_Us/Cor...
November 14, 2025 at 1:51 PM
#OnThisDay 2️⃣5️⃣ years ago: 14 November 2000, #Portugal deposited its Instrument of Accession to the ESA Convention, making it @esa.int's 15th Member State.
www.esa.int/About_Us/Cor...
www.esa.int/About_Us/Cor...
#OTD: 12 November 2014, @esa.int's Rosetta Philae lander made history by touching down on the surface of a comet, the first spacecraft ever to do so. The landing was confirmed at 16:03 GMT/17:03 CET 🧪🔭
www.esa.int/Science_Expl...
@cnes.fr @dlr-de.bsky.social @operations.esa.int @science.esa.int
www.esa.int/Science_Expl...
@cnes.fr @dlr-de.bsky.social @operations.esa.int @science.esa.int
November 12, 2025 at 11:19 AM
#OTD: 12 November 2014, @esa.int's Rosetta Philae lander made history by touching down on the surface of a comet, the first spacecraft ever to do so. The landing was confirmed at 16:03 GMT/17:03 CET 🧪🔭
www.esa.int/Science_Expl...
@cnes.fr @dlr-de.bsky.social @operations.esa.int @science.esa.int
www.esa.int/Science_Expl...
@cnes.fr @dlr-de.bsky.social @operations.esa.int @science.esa.int
2025 marked three decades of satellite navigation in Europe. To celebrate, @esa.int held an event that took the audience on a journey through time, honouring achievements and collaborations that have shaped the systems we rely on today: Galileo and EGNOS.
@navigation.esa.int @euspa.bsky.social
@navigation.esa.int @euspa.bsky.social
Celebrating 30 years of European satellite navigation
YouTube video by ESA Extras
www.youtube.com
November 12, 2025 at 10:57 AM
2025 marked three decades of satellite navigation in Europe. To celebrate, @esa.int held an event that took the audience on a journey through time, honouring achievements and collaborations that have shaped the systems we rely on today: Galileo and EGNOS.
@navigation.esa.int @euspa.bsky.social
@navigation.esa.int @euspa.bsky.social
😎 This is cool 👇 Explore 25 years on the International Space Station. This multimedia project replays every day of the past 25 years on board and consists entirely of historical mission material. By @benfeist.bsky.social and David Charney.
issinrealtime.org
issinrealtime.org
ISS in Real Time
Explore 25 years onboard the International Space Station.
issinrealtime.org
November 11, 2025 at 4:34 PM
😎 This is cool 👇 Explore 25 years on the International Space Station. This multimedia project replays every day of the past 25 years on board and consists entirely of historical mission material. By @benfeist.bsky.social and David Charney.
issinrealtime.org
issinrealtime.org
#50YearsOfESA
#2019
Cheops was launched on 18 December 2019. ESA's 'CHaracterising ExOPlanet Satellite' is the first space mission dedicated to determining the sizes of known extrasolar planets, to allow estimation of their mass, density and composition.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CHEOPS
@cnes.fr
#2019
Cheops was launched on 18 December 2019. ESA's 'CHaracterising ExOPlanet Satellite' is the first space mission dedicated to determining the sizes of known extrasolar planets, to allow estimation of their mass, density and composition.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CHEOPS
@cnes.fr
November 11, 2025 at 3:29 PM
#50YearsOfESA
#2019
Cheops was launched on 18 December 2019. ESA's 'CHaracterising ExOPlanet Satellite' is the first space mission dedicated to determining the sizes of known extrasolar planets, to allow estimation of their mass, density and composition.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CHEOPS
@cnes.fr
#2019
Cheops was launched on 18 December 2019. ESA's 'CHaracterising ExOPlanet Satellite' is the first space mission dedicated to determining the sizes of known extrasolar planets, to allow estimation of their mass, density and composition.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CHEOPS
@cnes.fr
Reposted by European Space History
What lasted 18 years but was only meant for 7?
Marecs B2, launched #OTD in 1984 on an Ariane 3! 🛰️
One of Europe’s first telecom satellites, keeping ships connected with alerts, forecasts and news.🚢
A true overachiever in space history🌍
@eurospacehistory.bsky.social #ESAarchives
Marecs B2, launched #OTD in 1984 on an Ariane 3! 🛰️
One of Europe’s first telecom satellites, keeping ships connected with alerts, forecasts and news.🚢
A true overachiever in space history🌍
@eurospacehistory.bsky.social #ESAarchives
November 10, 2025 at 10:05 AM
What lasted 18 years but was only meant for 7?
Marecs B2, launched #OTD in 1984 on an Ariane 3! 🛰️
One of Europe’s first telecom satellites, keeping ships connected with alerts, forecasts and news.🚢
A true overachiever in space history🌍
@eurospacehistory.bsky.social #ESAarchives
Marecs B2, launched #OTD in 1984 on an Ariane 3! 🛰️
One of Europe’s first telecom satellites, keeping ships connected with alerts, forecasts and news.🚢
A true overachiever in space history🌍
@eurospacehistory.bsky.social #ESAarchives
Reposted by European Space History
The first surviving successful image of Jupiter was taken in 1879 by Andrew Ainslie Common in Ealing, London, using his 36-inch Newtonian reflector and the wet collodion process invented in 1851 by portrait photographer Frederick Scott Archer
November 10, 2025 at 8:24 AM
The first surviving successful image of Jupiter was taken in 1879 by Andrew Ainslie Common in Ealing, London, using his 36-inch Newtonian reflector and the wet collodion process invented in 1851 by portrait photographer Frederick Scott Archer
The #ESAarchives Object of the Month for November is about the space connections between present and past in the German city of Bremen. While this month it plays host to ESA Ministerial Council meeting (CM25), almost 50 years ago it played an important role in one of ESA's first flagship projects.
November 10, 2025 at 1:58 PM
The #ESAarchives Object of the Month for November is about the space connections between present and past in the German city of Bremen. While this month it plays host to ESA Ministerial Council meeting (CM25), almost 50 years ago it played an important role in one of ESA's first flagship projects.
#OTD 2️⃣0️⃣ years ago: 9 November 2005, launch of ESA's Venus Express, Europe's first spacecraft to #Venus. The mission ended in 2014 after eight years of operation around our nearest planetary neighbour 🧪🔭
www.esa.int/Science_Expl... @science.esa.int @operations.esa.int
www.esa.int/Science_Expl... @science.esa.int @operations.esa.int
November 9, 2025 at 11:13 AM
#OTD 2️⃣0️⃣ years ago: 9 November 2005, launch of ESA's Venus Express, Europe's first spacecraft to #Venus. The mission ended in 2014 after eight years of operation around our nearest planetary neighbour 🧪🔭
www.esa.int/Science_Expl... @science.esa.int @operations.esa.int
www.esa.int/Science_Expl... @science.esa.int @operations.esa.int
#50YearsOfESA
#2018
BepiColombo was launched on 20 October 2018, on an Ariane 5 rocket from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana. It's a joint ESA/JAXA mission to study Mercury, now on an eight-year journey with arrival in orbit expected in late 2026.
www.esa.int/Science_Expl... @science.esa.int
#2018
BepiColombo was launched on 20 October 2018, on an Ariane 5 rocket from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana. It's a joint ESA/JAXA mission to study Mercury, now on an eight-year journey with arrival in orbit expected in late 2026.
www.esa.int/Science_Expl... @science.esa.int
November 5, 2025 at 4:34 PM
#50YearsOfESA
#2018
BepiColombo was launched on 20 October 2018, on an Ariane 5 rocket from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana. It's a joint ESA/JAXA mission to study Mercury, now on an eight-year journey with arrival in orbit expected in late 2026.
www.esa.int/Science_Expl... @science.esa.int
#2018
BepiColombo was launched on 20 October 2018, on an Ariane 5 rocket from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana. It's a joint ESA/JAXA mission to study Mercury, now on an eight-year journey with arrival in orbit expected in late 2026.
www.esa.int/Science_Expl... @science.esa.int
#50YearsOfESA
#2017
#Copernicus Sentinel-5P ('Precursor') was launched on 13 October 2017, the first Copernicus mission dedicated to monitoring our atmosphere, carrying the state-of-the-art TROPOMI instrument to map a range of trace gases & aerosols.
www.esa.int/Applications... @euspa.bsky.social
#2017
#Copernicus Sentinel-5P ('Precursor') was launched on 13 October 2017, the first Copernicus mission dedicated to monitoring our atmosphere, carrying the state-of-the-art TROPOMI instrument to map a range of trace gases & aerosols.
www.esa.int/Applications... @euspa.bsky.social
November 5, 2025 at 4:18 PM
#50YearsOfESA
#2017
#Copernicus Sentinel-5P ('Precursor') was launched on 13 October 2017, the first Copernicus mission dedicated to monitoring our atmosphere, carrying the state-of-the-art TROPOMI instrument to map a range of trace gases & aerosols.
www.esa.int/Applications... @euspa.bsky.social
#2017
#Copernicus Sentinel-5P ('Precursor') was launched on 13 October 2017, the first Copernicus mission dedicated to monitoring our atmosphere, carrying the state-of-the-art TROPOMI instrument to map a range of trace gases & aerosols.
www.esa.int/Applications... @euspa.bsky.social
#OTD 🔟F years ago: 4 November 2015, #Hungary became ESA’s 22nd Member State when it deposited its instrument of ratification of the ESA Convention in Paris. #50YearsOfESA
www.esa.int/About_Us/Cor...
www.esa.int/About_Us/Cor...
November 4, 2025 at 4:21 PM
#OTD 🔟F years ago: 4 November 2015, #Hungary became ESA’s 22nd Member State when it deposited its instrument of ratification of the ESA Convention in Paris. #50YearsOfESA
www.esa.int/About_Us/Cor...
www.esa.int/About_Us/Cor...