ESA enhances Milky Way understanding with Gaia data

In the first quarter of 2025, the European Space Agency (ESA) shared exciting updates about its projects and discoveries. New data from the Gaia space telescope has provided more detailed charts of our Milky Way galaxy, enhancing our understanding of its structure. ESA also conducted remarkable flybys of Mercury and Mars, which included a close encounter with Deimos, one of Mars's moons. These missions are important for gathering more information about our neighboring planets. Preparations are ramping up for several significant missions. The Biomass mission, aimed at mapping forests, is on track for launch, along with two important atmospheric missions: the Meteosat Third Generation Sounder and the Sentinel-4 instrument. In addition, contracts were signed for the development of Europe’s Argonaut Lunar Lander and the Ramses space safety mission. At the annual European Space Conference, ESA joined forces with the European Commission to highlight the crucial role of space in Europe’s future. Lastly, ESA has partnered with the international Red Cross to utilize space technology for humanitarian efforts around the globe, demonstrating its commitment to using space for good.