This Week in Space – November 16-22, 2025
🏛️ ESA Policy & Planning
ESA Ministerial Council Meeting
The European Space Agency’s Ministerial Council convened this week to discuss and shape the future of European space exploration, setting strategic priorities and funding commitments for upcoming missions and programs.
ESA Student Internship Applications Open
The clock is ticking! Applications for the ESA Student Internship program are now open, offering aspiring space professionals the opportunity to work alongside experts on cutting-edge space missions and research projects.
🔭 Telescope Discoveries
Hubble Captures Spiral Galaxy NGC 4535
This week’s ESA/Hubble Picture of the Week features the spectacular spiral galaxy NGC 4535, located approximately 50 million light-years away. The stunning image reveals intricate spiral arms and star-forming regions in remarkable detail.
☄️ Comet Watch
SOHO Captures Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS
The ESA/NASA Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) captured remarkable images of interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS during October 15-26, 2026. This rare visitor from beyond our solar system provides insights into the composition of interstellar material.
🌍 Earth Observation
Copernicus Sentinel-2 Views Danakil Depression
The Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission captured stunning imagery of one of Earth’s most extreme environments: the Danakil Depression. This geological wonder showcases our planet’s dynamic surface processes and extreme conditions.
🛰️ Upcoming Missions
Smile Mission: Studying Earth’s Space Environment
Smile is a brand-new space mission currently in development. It will study how Earth responds to the solar wind and space weather events, providing crucial data for understanding our planet’s magnetosphere and its interaction with the Sun.
📸 Week in Images
ESA Week in Images: November 17-21, 2025
Discover this week through the lens with ESA’s curated collection of stunning space imagery, featuring highlights from missions, Earth observation, and astronomical discoveries that showcase the beauty and science of space exploration.
Next Week Preview
Stay tuned for more ESA mission updates, telescope discoveries, Earth observation highlights, and the latest developments in European space exploration.