TheTechno Optimist.

HeraEuropean Space Agency—ESA Hera mission targets early arrival at Didymos asteroid in November 2026 to measure DART impactPLATOEuropean Space Agency—PLATO passes thermal-vacuum tests in ESA's Large Space SimulatorExoMars Rosalind Franklin roverEuropean Space Agency—NASA approves its part of the Rosalind Franklin mission and picks Falcon Heavy for a late-2028 launchPLATOEuropean Space Agency—PLATO completes its last environmental tests; launch set for March 2027ExoMars Rosalind Franklin roverEuropean Space Agency—ESA drop-tests a full-scale mock-up of the ExoMars landing platform

European Space Agency

Hera mission, Copernicus, ECMWF, planetary defence

FRgovernmentest. 1975esa.int (opens esa.int)Checked 11 Oct

The brief

Analyst view
  • Develops Ariane rockets and Copernicus Earth-observation satellites; participates in the International Space Station.
  • Hera mission to asteroid Didymos measures how NASA's 2022 DART impact deflected it, validating planetary defence.
  • Multinational agency with 23 European member states; 2026 budget €8.26 billion.

Technical approach

As reported
Ariane rockets

European launch capability

Ariane 5 has launched over 100 times. Ariane 6 made its debut in July 2024, offering lower costs and higher launch frequency than prior heavy-lift options.

Copernicus

Earth observation infrastructure

A constellation of Sentinel satellites offers free, open Earth data for climate, disaster response and environmental monitoring to all users.

Deep space

Exploration and science missions

ESA leads missions to comets, asteroids and the Moon. Hera and ExoMars investigate planetary protection and the search for life.

ISS partnership

Participated space station

ESA provides Columbus module, automated supply vehicle (ATV) and astronauts; shares ownership and operations costs.

Primer