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In 2024, ESA continued to drive Europe\u2019s innovation and excellence in space, equipping the continent with advanced tools and knowledge to address global and local challenges. The year saw pioneering missions, cutting-edge satellites and the pivotal restoration of Europe\u2019s independent access to space.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The first Ariane 6 launch was perhaps \u2018the\u2019 highlight of the year but it was only one\u00a0of\u00a0many achievements.\u00a0We\u00a0saw the last\u00a0Vega\u00a0launch\u00a0and then\u00a0the return to flight of Vega-C, the more powerful, upgraded version\u00a0carrying\u00a0Sentinel-1C.<\/p>\n
Far away in our Solar System, the ESA\/JAXA BepiColombo spacecraft performed twoMercury flybys in 2024,\u00a0needed\u00a0so that\u00a0it\u00a0can\u00a0enter orbit around Mercury in 2026.\u00a0Juice\u00a0also\u00a0performed a crucial gravity assist, this time becoming the first spacecraft to conduct a Moon-Earth double flyby on its way to Jupiter.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Twenty\u00a0years\u00a0after\u00a0ESA\u2019s Rosetta was launched and 10 years since its historic arrival at the comet 67P\/Churyumov-Gerasimenko,\u00a0we\u00a0launched another\u00a0spacecraft to a small body,\u00a0the Hera planetary defence mission\u00a0to investigate asteroid Dimorphos.<\/p>\n
2024 was an important year for Europe\u2019s Galileo constellation which continued to expand with the launch of four new satellites and an updated Galileo ground system. The year also saw the\u00a0launch of ESA\u2019s Proba-3 mission:\u00a0two precision formation-flying satellites\u00a0forming a solar coronagraph\u00a0to\u00a0study the Sun\u2019s faint corona.\u00a0<\/p>\n
In human spaceflight, Europe continues to contribute to science from the ISS as Andreas Mogensen\u2019s Huginn mission continued into 2024. Andreas even met up in space with ESA project astronaut Marcus Wandt who was launched on his Muninn mission, making it the first time two Scandinavians were in space together.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Meanwhile the latest class of ESA astronauts completed basic training and graduated in April.\u00a0Two of them, Sophie and Rapha\u00ebl,\u00a0were then\u00a0assigned\u00a0to\u00a0long-duration missions to the ISS in 2026.<\/p>\n
We\u00a0made\u00a0crucial steps for Europe in gaining access to the\u00a0Moon: the\u00a0inauguration\u00a0of our LUNA facility\u00a0with DLR, and the\u00a0delivery of a\u00a0third\u00a0European Service Module for NASA\u2019s Orion spacecraft\u00a0as part of the Artemis programme.<\/p>\n
Europe is also contributing to the international Lunar Gateway and developing\u00a0and ESA lunar lander called Argonaut. These\u00a0landers will\u00a0rely on\u00a0ESA Moonlight, the programme\u00a0to establish Europe\u2019s first dedicated satellite constellation for lunar communication and navigation.<\/p>\n
As 2024 draws to a close, ESA\u2019s achievements this year have reinforced Europe\u2019s role in space.\u00a0ESA\u2019s journey continues\u00a0to\u00a0explore new frontiers, shaping the space landscape for generations to come.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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