ESA Science & Technology - News Archive
News archive
News archive
Saturn's moon Titan is home to seas and lakes filled with liquid hydrocarbons, but what makes the depressions they lie in? A new study suggests that the moon's surface dissolves in a similar process that creates sinkholes on Earth.
Published: 17 June 2015
The receipt of signals from Rosetta's Philae lander on 13 June after 211 days of hibernation marked the start of intense activity. In coordination with its mission partners, ESA teams are working to juggle Rosetta's flight plan to help with renewed lander science investigations.
Published: 15 June 2015
Rosetta's lander Philae has woken up after seven months in hibernation on the surface of Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko.
The signals were received at ESA's European Space Operations Centre in Darmstadt at 22:28 CEST on 13 June. More than 300 data packets have been analysed by the teams at the Lander Control Center at the German Aerospace...
Published: 14 June 2015
Although the Universe may seem spacious most galaxies are clumped together in groups or clusters and a neighbour is never far away. But this galaxy, known as NGC 6503, has found itself in a lonely position, shown here at the edge of a strangely empty patch of space called the Local Void.
Published: 10 June 2015
European and Chinese scientists have recommended the Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer as their candidate for a collaborative science mission for launch in 2021.
Published: 4 June 2015
Exoplanets, plasma physics and the X-ray Universe are the topics chosen by ESA to be considered for the fourth medium-class mission in its Cosmic Vision science programme, for launch in 2025.
Published: 4 June 2015
In a new study, scientists have gathered all available NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope data on the four outer moons of Pluto to analyse the system in more depth than ever before. The observations show that at least two of Pluto's moons are not neatly rotating on their axes but are in chaotic rotation while orbiting around Pluto and its companion...
Published: 3 June 2015
Rosetta's continued close study of Comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko has revealed an unexpected process at work, causing the rapid breakup of water and carbon dioxide molecules spewing from the comet’s surface.
Published: 2 June 2015
Observations with ESA's Herschel space observatory have revealed that our Galaxy is threaded with filamentary structures on every length scale. From nearby clouds hosting tangles of filaments a few light-years long to gigantic structures stretching hundreds of light-years across the Milky Way's spiral arms, they appear to be truly ubiquitous.
Published: 28 May 2015
In the most extensive survey of its kind ever conducted, a team of scientists have found an unambiguous link between the presence of supermassive black holes that power high-speed, radio-signal-emitting jets and the merger history of their host galaxies. Almost all of the galaxies hosting these jets were found to be merging with another galaxy,...
Published: 28 May 2015
A new set of resources for secondary school physics students aged 14-18 years old are now ready for teachers to download.
Published: 22 May 2015
This autumn, the European Space Agency (ESA) is teaming up with Universe Awareness (UNAWE) to bring a group of international primary school teachers to the European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC) in Noordwijk, the Netherlands. The teachers will be participating in the UNAWE International Workshop 2015, which will take place in the...
Published: 20 May 2015
Astronomers using the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope have, for the first time, collected a census of young white dwarf stars beginning their migration from the crowded centre of an ancient star cluster to its less populated outskirts. The new results challenge our ideas about how and when a star loses its mass near the end of its life.
Published: 14 May 2015
The scientific community is invited to submit proposals for participation to the Cassini-Huygens mission through the Participating Scientists programme. This Announcement of Opportunity is issued jointly by ESA, NASA, and ASI. A brief statement of work is due on 1 June 2015; the full proposal is due on 18 August 2015.
Published: 7 May 2015
Do you want to send your art into space on the new CHEOPS satellite? ESA and its mission partners are inviting children to submit drawings that will be miniaturised and engraved on two plaques that will be put on the satellite.
Published: 6 May 2015
The AKARI space telescope's far-infrared all-sky image data are now available to researchers everywhere. The new all-sky maps have four to five times better spatial resolution than conventional far-infrared all-sky images, and include data at longer wavelengths.
Published: 4 May 2015
This vibrant image of the star cluster Westerlund 2 has been released to celebrate Hubble's 25th year in orbit and a quarter of a century of new discoveries, stunning images and outstanding science.
Published: 23 April 2015
Astronomers have shown for the first time how star formation in "dead" galaxies sputtered out billions of years ago.
Published: 16 April 2015
Measurements made by Rosetta and Philae during the probe's multiple landings on Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko show that the comet's nucleus is not magnetised.
Published: 14 April 2015
The launch of Solar Orbiter, an ESA mission to explore the Sun in unprecedented detail, is now planned to take place in October 2018. The launch was previously targeted for July 2017.
Published: 13 April 2015
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