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The world's most powerful telescope launched on December 25 to explore the origins of the universe. The new James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) was successfully launched on December 25, 2021, from the Guiana Space Centre in Kourou. Featuring a primary mirror 6.5 meters (21.3 feet) in diameter, JWST is the largest space telescope ever built for a scientific mission. One hundred times more sensitive than its predecessor, Hubble, it promises significant breakthroughs in galactic physics and the study of exoplanets.

The superpower competition in space began with the dawn of space exploration. Today, it continues with the race for new launch vehicles. Rockets and exploration programs represent major geopolitical stakes. However, given the resources required, international collaboration is essential. The Chinese have announced a partnership with Russia for their 2030 lunar base project—a direct challenge issued to the United States.

The Copernicus program uses its satellite constellation to collect ultra-precise data on climate change. ESA’s Copernicus program represents an investment of roughly 7 billion euros and generates petabits of data to model future climate shifts, primarily through the Sentinel-6 satellite, which has been operational since June 2021. This highly sophisticated spacecraft specifically measures sea-level rise, and its initial findings confirm a deeply concerning trend.

Sophie, Pablo, Rosemary, Raphaël y Marco son los cinco astronautas de la nueva promoción de la Agencia Espacial Europea que comenzaron su formación en abril de 2023 en Colonia. Este selecto grupo tendrá misiones no solo en la Estación Espacial Internacional, sino también en futuras expediciones a la Luna y quizás a Marte.

La sonda europea Euclid despegó con éxito el 1 de julio de 2023. Su objetivo es ambicioso: intentar resolver el enigma de la materia y la energía oscuras, que constituyen el 95 % del universo. Euclid establecerá un mapa en 3D de una parte del universo utilizando instrumentos ultrasofisticados y con la participación de cerca de 2000 científicos en todo el mundo.

In only one year of operation, the James Webb Space Telescope has revolutionised the way the universe is observed. Images of protostars, the birth of galaxies, unprecedented information about exoplanets... the data collected will fuel astronomical research for many years to come.

Ariane 6 is Europe’s new launch system, set to begin service in summer 2024. After a four-year delay, the ESA hopes the new system, which represents an enormous technical challenge, will take off without a hitch.

On 26 September 2022, NASA's Dart probe successfully collided with an asteroid, deflecting it from its trajectory. The ESA-led Hera probe will study in detail the result of the impact and the properties of the asteroid.