EU Space Policy

Competitiveness Council resolves to advance European Space Policy — 29 September 2008, 18:12 CET

On 26 September, the Competitiveness Council adopted a resolution to advance Europe's Space Policy. The resolution sets out four priority areas: space and climate change; space and security; space exploration; and the contribution of space to the Lisbon Strategy. The Member States highlighted in particular the importance of the rapid and successful implementation both of Galileo, the EU's satellite navigation system, and GMES (Global Monitoring for Environment and Security).

EU not boldly funding space ambitions — 26 September 2008, 22:46 CET

EU ministers agree that the EU wants to become a major player in space projects, amid concerns that Member States and industry are unwilling to provide the astronomical costs involved.

ESA spacecraft snaps best pictures yet of Martian moon — 06 August 2008, 23:31 CET

The European Space Agency's Mars Express spacecraft has taken the most detailed images ever of the Martian moon Phobos. The pictures, which ESA describes as 'the best images of Phobos ever', reveal previously unseen details of the moon's surface.

EU satellite back on track for lift-off — 27 July 2008, 10:08 CET

The European Space Agency's Gravity field and steady-state Ocean Circulation Explorer (GOCE) is back on track for its launch into space on September 10 2008 after its first launch date was postponed.

More EU states eye European Space Agency — 23 July 2008, 00:09 CET

Four countries that joined the European Union in 2004 are knocking on the door of the European Space Agency, says the French Research Minister.

Second EU test satellite 'in good health': agency — 30 April 2008, 22:42 CET

A second test satellite for Galileo, Europe's rival to the US Global Positioning System, is "in good health" despite a hiccup that emerged after it was placed in orbit last Sunday, the European Space Agency said on Wednesday.

Second test satellite for Galileo launched, reaches orbit — 27 April 2008, 12:15 CET

A second experimental Giove-B satellite for the EU's Galileo satellite navigation project was launched from the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan early on Sunday.

Commemorating 30 years of European human space flight — 08 April 2008, 23:09 CET

Thirty years ago, a Czech citizen, Vladimir Remek, made history when he became the first man from a country other than the US or former Soviet Union to go into space. On 2 March 1978, he took off aboard the Soyuz 28 spacecraft for an eight-day mission to the Salyut 6 space station.

Lift-off for Europe's first resupply ship — 17 March 2008, 23:49 CET

Europe's biggest contribution to space technology, the Jules Verne Automated Transfer Vehicles (ATV), has been successfully launched into low earth orbit. The launch vehicle, an Ariane 5 rocket, was carrying its largest ever payload when it achieved lift-off from the Guiana Space Centre in Kourou, French Guiana. During the coming weeks the Jules Verne ATV will rendezvous and dock with the International Space Station (ISS) to deliver fuel and food supplies for the astronauts onboard the ISS.

Spacewalkers place research equipment on European lab — 16 February 2008, 12:10 CET

A pair of spacewalking astronauts attached Friday two pieces of research equipment on the International Space Station's new European laboratory to study the sun and carry out experiments, NASA said.

European orbiting X-ray observatory gives new insight into neutron stars — 10 January 2008, 17:20 CET

The orbiting X-ray observatory, XMM-Newton, has given astronomers and physics a valuable new insight into the most exotic stars in the Universe: neutron stars.

European astronomers set out 20 year vision — 01 October 2007, 23:26 CET

European scientists have unveiled their vision for European astronomy over the next two decades. 'A science vision for European astronomy' was drawn up by the EU-funded ASTRONET project, which brings together 17 funding agencies from across Europe with the goal of consolidating Europe's position as a world leader in astronomy.

European Space Agency signs satellite cooperation deal — 21 May 2007, 16:46 CET

The European Space Agency (ESA) and the Supervisory Authority of the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) have signed an agreement opening up the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS) and Galileo programmes to further cooperation.