New Missions and Discoveries: ESA Looks into the Future of Space
The European Space Agency (ESA) currently has many exciting projects that are expanding our knowledge of the universe. In May 2026, several important events are scheduled, ranging from new satellite launches to international cooperation. These missions help scientists better protect the Earth and explore distant planets.
A special highlight is the launch of the SMILE mission on May 19, 2026. In a collaboration between Europe and China, a Vega-C rocket will carry the satellite into space. SMILE is intended to study the Earth's magnetic field. Just one day later, on May 20, there is another important event: journalists will be allowed to visit the "Plato" satellite. Plato is a so-called planet hunter that will search space for new worlds similar to Earth.
The safety of our planet also plays a major role. ESA and the Japanese space agency JAXA have signed a contract in Berlin to work together on "planetary defense." A central part of this cooperation is the Ramses mission to the asteroid Apophis. Researchers want to learn how to protect the Earth from potential impacts from space.
However, not all space research takes place in space. The SOLIS100 isolation study recently began in Cologne. Six volunteers are living there for an extended period in a sealed accommodation. In this study, scientists are investigating how isolation affects the human body and psyche. These findings are very important for future trips to Mars or the Moon.
While new missions are being prepared, current projects are already delivering initial results. The Proba-3 satellite pair, for example, has discovered surprisingly fast solar winds. Through artificial solar eclipses, researchers can observe the solar corona more precisely than ever before. All these advances show how important international cooperation is for unlocking the secrets of space.