In the historic city of Edinburgh, Scotland, ESA kicked off its series of stakeholder consultation workshops that will eventually inform the long-term European space exploration strategy. This is a key element in the preparation of the next ESA Council at Ministerial level and the space exploration activities that will be tabled for decision.

Thanks to the Hubble COSMOS survey - the largest survey of the Universe ever conducted by the Space Telescope, astronomers have created a three-dimensional map which helps us to better understand how galaxies formed and grew. It could also lead to new insights on whether dark matter also features strange new particles, remnants of the Big Bang, as some scientists have been suggesting for many years.

For more than a decade, the SOHO mission has provided great insights into our Sun. The COROT spacecraft will learn much more about the interior of stars. While looking at stars, COROT will detect subtle variations in their luminosity caused by the transit of planets orbiting around them, and break new ground in the search for distant worlds outside the Solar System.

ESApod reports from the 2nd Grid and e-Collaboration Workshop for the Earth Science and Space community, held at ESRIN - ESA's Earth Observation Centre in Frascati, Italy.

ESA astronomer and extrasolar planet expert Malcolm Fridlund explains what to expect from the next exoplanet-hunting mission.

Discovery launch delay fails to dampen national enthusiasm for the Celsius Mission.

A look at the main highlights of the 9th ESA Workshop on Advanced Space Technologies for Robotics and Automation (ASTRA 2006), including the Mars rover prototypes Bridget and ExoMaDer.

During the Celsius Mission, ESA astronaut Christer Fuglesang will float outside the International Space Station to connect the electrical system to new solar panels. This will be perhaps the most difficult job ever carried out in space.

Vega: a new generation launch vehicle offering high performance and reduced cost.

Europe, USA, Russia, Japan and Canada each play a key role in the ISS assembly and scientific research. To date, ESA has sent to the ISS seven astronauts to help with the assembly of the Station. The coming year will be busy for ESA - with the flight of three astronauts as well as the launch of the European Columbus laboratory and the Automated Transfer Vehicle.