ESA celebrates 50 years of European ambition in space with Spain

On Thursday 16 October, the European Space Agency (ESA) will mark its 50th Anniversary together with Spain, a founder Member State of the Agency, at the European Space Astronomy Centre (ESAC) in Villanueva de la Cañada, Madrid. The ceremony will be presided over by ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher and Spain’s Minister of Science, Innovation and Universities, Diana Morant, and hosted by ESA Director of Science and Head of ESAC, Professor Carole Mundell, who leads ESA’s world-leading Space Science Programme. Media representatives are welcome to attend and cover the ceremony, which will take place in the morning – exact timings to be confirmed. Media opportunities with ESA spokespeople will be available on site following the ceremony. During the day, ESA and the Spanish Government will underscore their cooperation in space, with several activities across ESA Directorates taking place at ESAC throughout the day. For five decades, ESA and its Member States have worked together to shape Europe’s presence in space – driving discovery, advancing technology and delivering services that benefit citizens on Earth. The event takes place at a pivotal time, as ESA and its Member States prepare for the upcoming Council at Ministerial level in November 2025 in Bremen, Germany, where Europe’s vision for the next decade in space will be defined. ESAC is ESA’s window to the Universe, home to the Agency’s planetary, solar and astronomy missions. Over the past 20 years, it has deepened Europe’s understanding of the cosmos through completed missions such as Rosetta and Planck, and ongoing and future missions including Euclid, Solar Orbiter, Juice and LISA, while managing and sharing the data that enables new discoveries. The anniversary offers an opportunity to celebrate Europe’s achievements in space and to look ahead to the next decades of exploration and innovation.