How much does cosmic and solar radiation matter for understanding global change?

Ice plays a crucial role in moderating the Earth's climate so it is important to understand any changes that might be occurring in the polar regions. While measuring the extent of polar ice is relatively easy, accurately measuring fluctuations in ice thickness is much more difficult. ESA plans to address this issue with the launch of CryoSat-2 in 2009.

A Sicilian starter followed by roast quail in a wine sauce and rice pudding with dried fruit… What sounds like a Michelin-starred restaurant dinner is actually a new generation of space food. This menu, a festive change from daily routine for the crew on board the International Space Station, had been prepared in the gourmet laboratories of French chef Alain Ducasse.

Space technologies providing viable solutions for terrestrial problems. ESApod reports from the 2nd Space and Society Conference held 27 February - 1 March 2007 at ESA's Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC) in Noordwijk, the Netherlands.

Herschel will have an unprecedented view of the 'cold' (infrared) universe, bridging the gap between what can be observed from ground and earlier space missions of this kind.

At 3:15 AM CET on 25 February, Rosetta successfully swung past Mars at 250 km altitude, speeding away at 36 000 km/hour in a critical gravity assist.

With the "Cosmic Vision 2015-2025" scientific plan, the European Space Agency aims to consolidate present goals in space science and place them on a long term, sustainable footing.

After its swingby of Earth in March 2005, ESA's Rosetta comet chaser is about to make the second of its four planetary flybys: Mars.

On 25 February, Rosetta will swing by Mars at 250 km in the second of four critical gravity assists in its ten-year voyage.

ESA Director General reviews highlights of 2006 and provides an overview of Agency activities for 2007.