“Spotlight on ESA: Pivotal Moments to Watch in 2025”

Throughout the year, ESA media relations will inform the press of opportunities as they arise to attend launches, observe spacecraft in clean rooms, and engage with ESA specialists for significant events. Every ESA Council will be succeeded by an informational session for which we will also extend invitations.

Please be aware that the dates listed below are subject to modification. ESA will provide exact date details as the events approach. We are available to assist with inquiries and interview requests.

BepiColombo flyby of Mercury

Date: 8 January

The ESA/JAXA BepiColombo mission performed a flyby of Mercury for the sixth instance, achieving its nearest approach on 8 January. This flyby will aid in guiding the spacecraft into orbit around the closest planet late in 2026.

More information: ESA – Top three images from BepiColombo’s sixth Mercury flyby

 

Director General’s annual press briefing at ESA’s headquarters in Paris   

Date: 9 January

ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher, alongside ESA Directors, conducted their yearly start-of-the-year press briefing, offering insights into the forthcoming year. The recording of the event can be accessed here: https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Videos/2025/01/ESA_Director_General_s_Annual_Press_Briefing 

 

Twentieth anniversary of Huygens landing

Date: 14 January

Launched in 1997, Cassini-Huygens was a groundbreaking mission. ESA’s Huygens probe was connected to the Cassini spacecraft for the extensive journey to Saturn before embarking on its independent voyage to land on Saturn’s largest moon, Titan.

More information: https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Videos/2017/09/Cassini-Huygens_a_Saturn_success_story 

 

17th European Space conference

Date: 28-29 January

Engage with ESA representatives in Brussels as decision-makers, space agencies, and industry leaders gather for two days of panels and discussions.

More information: 17th European Space Conference – Meet the leaders shaping Europe’s future

 

Gaia end of scientific operations and passivation

Date: January and March

After over 10 years in orbit, one of the most fruitful space science missions in history will conclude its observations and be repositioned to a retirement orbit, permitting future spacecraft to safely traverse the Sun-Earth L2 Lagrangian point. Gaia has already transformed our comprehension of the Milky Way and has revealed astonishing discoveries about the Universe – yet scientific discoveries will continue far into the future through the analysis of the unparalleled legacy of data. The largest data release of the mission, the complete survey catalog, is still anticipated in 2026. 

More information: https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Gaia/Gaia_s_decade_of_discoveries_unravelling_the_intricacies_of_our_galaxy  

 

European Launcher Challenge – invitation to tender

Date: Q1 

To prepare for the future and enhance competitiveness within the sector, European space enterprises will be called upon to propose initiatives for space transportation services, with candidates to be identified within 2025.

More information: https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Space_Transportation/The_scene_is_set_for_the_European_Launcher_Challenge  

 

Biomass cleanroom visit

Date: 11 February

Set to launch in Q2, the Biomass satellite will be open for a cleanroom visit. The satellite is one of ESA’s Earth Explorers, leading the way in new technologies for Earth observation. The event will be hosted at Airbus facilities in Toulouse, France.

 

Solar Orbiter Venus flyby;

Date: Q1 

Gravity-assist flybys of Venus enable Solar Orbiter to achieve the orbit required for its scientific operations. This Venus flyby will elevate the inclination of the spacecraft’s orbit from about 7.7 to approximately 17 degrees.

More information: https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Solar_Orbiter/Solar_Orbiter_perihelia_and_flybys  

The most significant Solar Orbiter images to date: https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/(archive)/0/(type)/video  

 

Gateway modules progress visit

Date: 20 February

ESA and Thales Alenia Space will extend an invitation to the media for an event at Thales Alenia Space in Turin, Italy, ahead of the departure of NASA’s Habitation and Logistics Outpost (HALO) module to the United States. The visit will also present an opportunity to view the developing iHAB module – ESA’s habitation segment for the Gateway – and investigate the Lunar I-Hab mock-up, recently utilized by ESA and NASA astronauts to test and refine its interior design. Interview prospects with expert speakers will be provided.

More information:ESA – Gateway

 

MTG-S and Sentinel-4 cleanroom visit

Date: 20 February

Scheduled for launch in Q3, the first Meteosat Third Generation Sounder and Sentinel-4 satellite will be exhibited in the OHB cleanroom in Bremen, Germany, prior to their shipment to the launch site in the United States.

More information: https://www.esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth/Meteorological_missions/meteosat_third_generation 

https://www.esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth/Copernicus/Sentinel-4_and_-5 

 

End of Integral science

Date: Q2 

After more than twenty years of observations generating thousands of scientific papers, Integral science operations will wind up. The spacecraft is set for re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere in 2029.

More information: https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Integral 

 

Euclid Quick Data Release 1 

Date: March 2025

The initial release of Euclid’s nominal survey data will be prepared for sharing with the scientific community. It will encompass astronomical data covering 53 square degrees of the sky, including a preview of the Euclid Deep Field areas, alongside millions of galaxies and stars observed in remarkable detail. This data will lead scientists worldwide – and all humanity – to the elusive 95% of the Universe, the enigmatic domain of dark matter and dark energy. ‘Quick data release 1’ will not focus on cosmology, but instead on legacy science, galaxy formation, dwarf galaxies, clusters, strong lenses from galaxy zoo, etc. Cosmological findings are scheduled for release in October 2026.

More information: https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Euclid 

 

Hera Mars flyby

Date: Q2 

Hera will gain a gravity assist from Mars on its two-year journey to the Didymos binary asteroid system. The trajectory crafted by ESA teams will facilitate opportunistic science as Hera will pass by the martian moon Deimos at a proximity of just 300 km. 

More information: https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Operations/Hera_burns_towards_Mars 

 

ESA Council media information session

Date: 20 March (TBC) 

Details for invitation and registration will be shared in advance.

 

Biomass launch

Date: Q2

Equipped with an innovative P-band synthetic aperture radar, the Biomass mission is intended to provide vital information regarding the status of our forests and…

how they are evolving, and to expand our understanding of the part forests play in the carbon cycle.

Biomass will be initiated with a Vega-C launcher from Europe’s Spaceport located in French Guiana. Initial images are expected later in Q2.

Additional details: https://www.esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth/FutureEO/Biomass 

 

Ninth European Conference on Space Debris 

Date: 1-4 April  

ESA’s Space Debris team will facilitate the largest specialized meeting on space debris in Bonn, Germany. Presenters will include researchers, engineers, spacecraft managers, industry specialists, attorneys, and policymakers addressing space debris evaluation, mitigation, and regulations.  

Additional details: https://space-debris-conference.sdo.esoc.esa.int/page/welcome 

 

Vigil at the Science Museum, London 

Date: April (TBC) 

This occasion will include an informal media briefing for selected reporters and a public presentation for educational groups and the general public at the Science Museum. An additional public discussion is slated for the evening. 

Additional details: https://www.esa.int/Space_Safety/Vigil 

 

Second commercial mission to the ISS with ESA project astronaut  

Date: no earlier than spring 2025 

Polish project astronaut Sławosz Uznański is set to embark on a journey to the International Space Station aboard Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) no earlier than spring 2025. 

Axiom Space has announced its collaboration with India, Hungary, and Poland – via ESA – to transport three national astronauts to the International Space Station during Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4). 

ESA project astronaut Sławosz Uznański will serve as mission specialist under the command of Peggy Whitson, Axiom Space’s Director of Human Spaceflight. Various scientific experiments are planned for this brief commercial mission, including 13 from Poland. 

Additional details: https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Human_and_Robotic_Exploration/Slawosz_Uznanski_from_Poland_will_fly_to_International_Space_Station_on_fourth_Axiom_Space_mission 

 

Flyeye telescope first light 

Date: April 

ESA’s Flyeye telescopes are engineered to survey the sky nightly, aiding scientists in detecting asteroids and other near-Earth objects that may endanger the planet. The Flyeye-1 telescope, currently positioned at the Italian space agency ASI’s Centre for Space Geodesy in Matera, will scan an area in the sky approximately four times larger than the Moon as viewed from Earth once installed in Sicily. It aims to contribute to a forthcoming network of sky surveyors. ‘First light’ will signify the initial time the advanced telescope is directed towards the sky to evaluate its multi-optic functionality.   

Additional details: https://www.esa.int/about-flyeye 

 

Estrack 50th anniversary 

Date: 19 May & year-long 

ESA’s global ground station network facilitates missions by connecting with spacecraft – sending commands and receiving scientific data and spacecraft status updates. Since its inception 50 years ago, Estrack has expanded and advanced.

Additional details: https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Operations/ESA_Ground_Stations   

 

50th anniversary of the signing of the ESA Convention 

Date: 30 May

This year commemorates the 50th anniversary of the signing of the ESA Convention, offering an opportunity to reflect on past milestones and future aspirations. 

Additional details: https://www.esa.int/About_Us/Corporate_news/ESA_facts 

 

ESA Council media information briefing 

Date: 12 June (TBC) 

Invitation and registration details will be provided in advance.  

 

Le Bourget International Airshow, Paris, France  

Date: 16-22 June 

ESA will participate actively in the International Paris Air Show, organized by SIAE, a division of the French Aerospace Industries Association. 

Additional details: https://www.siae.fr/en/ 

 

ESA’s Living Planet Symposium, Vienna

Date: 23–27 June 

Conducted every three years, ESA’s Living Planet Symposium serves as a platform for discussion on the latest scientific discoveries and applications derived from satellite data, as well as an opportunity to evaluate the contributions these data and technologies have made, and to explore avenues for further advancement in addressing environmental and societal issues. The theme for this year’s event is ‘From Observation to Climate Action and Sustainability for Earth’. 

Additional details: https://lps25.esa.int/  

https://www.esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth/Save_the_date_ESA_s_Living_Planet_Symposium_2025 

 

HydroGNSS launch  

Date: Q3/Q4

The Earth observation Scout endeavor, HydroGNSS, will deliver measurements of vital hydrological climate elements, including soil moisture, freeze–thaw conditions over permafrost, flooding and wetlands, and above-ground biomass. The satellite employs a method known as Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) reflectometry – utilizing signals from satellites like those in Galileo to characterize Earth’s surface. In doing so, it will augment missions such as ESA’s SMOS and Biomass, Copernicus Sentinel-1, and NASA’s SMAP. Scout missions are crafted for swift development, taking three years from initiation to launch. 

Additional details: https://www.esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth/FutureEO/HydroGNSS_twice_as_good 

 

Galileo Emergency Warning Satellite System 

Date: Q3 

A new service from the Galileo constellation that will share alert messages to individuals situated in areas at risk from an impending natural or manmade catastrophe. Galileo satellites will relay information to smartphones or other devices capable of receiving Galileo signals, providing details concerning the hazard, its timing, expected duration, and instructions to adhere. 

Additional details: https://www.euspa.europa.eu/newsroom-events/news/galileo-emergency-warning-satellite-service-underway 

 

MTG-S and Sentinel-4 launch 

Date: Q3 

Copernicus Sentinel-4 will observe air quality, trace gases, and aerosols above Europe at high spatial resolution hourly during the daylight. It will be launched alongside the first satellite of the sounder class from the Meteosat Third Generation fleet. The first MTG-S satellite will bring forth an innovative infrared sounding capability, further enhancing weather forecasting precision. 

 

Sentinel-1D launch 

Date: Q3 

The Copernicus Sentinel-1 initiative is established as a two-satellite constellation. Each satellite is equipped with an advanced radar instrument to provide an all-weather, day-and-night supply of imagery of Earth’s surface. Sentinel-1D will also feature enhanced capabilities for detecting and monitoring maritime traffic, utilizing their integrated Automatic Identification Systems. 

Additional details: https://www.esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth/Copernicus/Sentinel-1  

 

Juice Venus flyby 

Date: Q3 

Launched in April 2023, Juice will proceed on its eight-year expedition to Jupiter with a gravity-assist maneuver at Venus.  

Additional details: https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Juice/Juice_factsheet 

Initial low-gravity system deployed in LUNA 

Date: Q3

Europe’s Moon on Earth enters a new era of precision as the inaugural low-gravity system is established at LUNA. The ‘Gravity offloading system’ employs trolleys and cables hanging from the ceiling, allowing astronauts or rovers linked to them to navigate as if they were under lunar gravity, experiencing just one-sixth of their normal weight on Earth. 

Additional details: https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2024/09/LUNA_-_Europe_s_Moon_on_Earth  

 

Commemoration of 30 years of satellite navigation 

Date: September 

Positioning, navigation, and timing technologies and services have transformed life over the last thirty years – and there’s more ahead with the emergence of LEO-PNT, the Genesis programme, and HydroGNSS utilizing navigation satellites to gather scientific data, along with the Moonlight initiative gearing up for navigation on the lunar surface. 

 

Global Space Business Week  

Date: 15-19 September 

Taking place annually in Paris, Global Space Business Week will return for interactions and networking opportunities. 

For more details: https://wsbw.com/ 

 

New Norcia 3 antenna inauguration 

Date: Q3/Q4 

ESA’s fourth deep-space ground facility, the New Norcia 3 antenna located in Western Australia, will enable remote missions to transmit and receive greater amounts of data throughout the inner Solar System. This facility will support ESA’s ongoing and future scientific, exploratory, and space safety missions, as well as provide cross-support to missions conducted by global partners. 

Further information: https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Videos/2024/10/ESA_crowns_new_deep-space_antenna_in_Australia  

https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Operations/ESA_Ground_Stations/New_Norcia_-_DSA_1  

 

76th International Astronautical Congress in Sydney, Australia 

Date: 29 September – 3 October 

‘Sustainable Space: Resilient Earth’ serves as the theme for IAC 2025 in Sydney. It emphasizes the vital connection between space innovation and sustainability, focusing on three primary domains: space-based applications for Earth, sustainable space operations, and sustaining life beyond our planet. 

More information: https://www.iac2025.org/about/theme/ 

 

First launch of Ariane 64 

Date: Q3/Q4

Following the triumphant inaugural flight of the European launcher Ariane 6 in 2024, this year will witness the introduction of the Ariane 64 variant. Ariane 6 is available in two models based on the required performance: one model equipped with two boosters, named Ariane 62; and Ariane 64 featuring four boosters. Ariane 64 can launch approximately 11.5 tonnes into geostationary transfer orbit and 21.6 tonnes into low Earth orbit. 

Ariane 64 will be launched from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana. 

Further details: https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Space_Transportation/Launch_vehicles/Ariane_6_overview  

 

Cluster-1 reentry 

Date: Q4 

After two decades of scientific accomplishments, Cluster is now aiding ESA in enhancing space sustainability. Following the reentry of the first of four Cluster satellites in 2024, the second (also referred to as Rumba) is scheduled to return in 2025. Through targeted reentry, ESA’s space safety specialists can analyze how and when the satellite disintegrates in the atmosphere, aiding in the design and operation of future spacecraft. 

https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Cluster/Goodnight_Cluster_brilliant_end_to_trailblazing_mission 

 

ESA Council media information session 

Date: 23 October (TBC) 

Invitations and registration details will be announced in advance. 

 

MetOp-SG and Sentinel-5 launch 

Date: Q3 

Following the success of Sentinel-5P, Sentinel-5 will be integrated into the polar-orbiting MetOp second-generation satellite MetOp-SG A1. 

For more details: https://www.esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth/Meteorological_missions/First_all-new_MetOp_complete_and_sibling_in_testing 

https://www.esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth/Copernicus/Sentinel-4_and_-5 

 

Sentinel-6B launch 

Date: Q4 

The second satellite of the Sentinel-6 series, Sentinel-6B, is set to be launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9. Sentinel-6 serves as the reference altimeter mission that standardizes data from other satellite altimeters, offering sea-level rise measurements every 10 days, with data provided in near real-time. 

For more details: https://www.esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth/Copernicus/Sentinel-6 

 

25th ESA Ministerial Council (CM25) in Bremen, Germany 

Date: 26-27 November 

Germany is set to host the ESA Ministerial Council in 2025, where pivotal decisions will be made that will guide the future of Europe’s space aspirations.