{"id":8612,"date":"2025-07-15T06:35:38","date_gmt":"2025-07-15T06:35:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/proespacio.tedae.org\/?p=8612"},"modified":"2025-07-23T08:21:47","modified_gmt":"2025-07-23T08:21:47","slug":"la-esa-cumple-50-anos-medio-siglo-de-conquistas-espaciales-y-nuevos-horizontes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/proespacio.tedae.org\/en\/la-esa-cumple-50-anos-medio-siglo-de-conquistas-espaciales-y-nuevos-horizontes\/","title":{"rendered":"ESA turns 50: half a century of Space conquest and new horizons"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Half a century ago, Europe decided to look to the heavens with ambition<\/h5>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tOn 30 May 1975<\/strong> in a room at the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Paris, the European Space Agency (ESA) was officially born. On that day, the Conference of Plenipotentiaries was held -a solemn meeting in which representatives with full powers from the member states signed the ESA\u2019s founding Convention.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThis act marked the transition of the previous efforts of two existing European organisations in the Space field -ESRO and ELDO- towards a single entity with a vocation for the future. It was a moment full of symbolism, but also of pragmatism: Europe needed a collective voice in Space, and ESA was the answer.<\/strong>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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50 years ago, Europe joined forces and created ESA, betting on cooperation as a way to achieve autonomy and prominence in global space exploration\u201d\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThe foundations of ESA were built on top of two pioneering organisations:\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The European Space Research Organisation (ESRO), founded in 1964 to coordinate scientific Space programmes, and the European Launcher Development Organisation (ELDO), created in 1962 with the aim of developing its own launchers.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBoth entities reflected Europe\u2019s desire not to be left behind in the nascent Space race, but also highlighted the difficulties of moving forward in an orderly manner. The convergence of European efforts into a single Agency was a logical and necessary step.\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHowever, the beginnings were not easy. The European Space industry, still young and fragmented, was facing already well-established giants. NASA, created in 1958 as a direct response to the Soviet Sputnik, was born with an ambitious vision and unprecedented budgetary support. Just eleven years later, in 1969, it managed to take humans to the Moon, consolidating its global leadership in the Space race. \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRussia, for its part, had inaugurated the Space age in 1957 with the launch of Sputnik and maintained a constant presence in orbit. Meanwhile, Europe was still trying to find its place with launches from Woomera (Australia) and with a budding institutional structure. \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The comparison was inevitable: while the Space powers operated with decades of advantage and colossal budgets, Europe opted for cooperation as an engine of progress.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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ESA\u2019s Main Missions and Projects in its 50-Year History 1975-2025<\/h5>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tEurope demonstrated that what it had was determination. The spirit of cooperation between countries, the willingness to share knowledge and resources, and a long-term vision allowed ESA to begin building a success story from that \u201cday zero\u201d.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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1975<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Signing of the ESA Convention.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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1976<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Launch to orbit of ESA\u2019s first scientific satellite, COS-B.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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1977<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Launch of Meteosat-1, ESA\u2019s first meteorological satellite.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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1978<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Launch of the International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE),
the first astronomical satellite in geostationary orbit.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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1979<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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First launch of Ariane 1 from Kourou.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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1980<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Arianespace becomes the first commercial Space transportation company.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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1981<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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MARECS-A, the first European maritime communications satellite.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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1982<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Development of Ariane 4 is approved.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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1983<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Ulf Merbold, the Agency\u2019s first astronaut to\nfly into Space.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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1984<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The first Ariane 3 is launched from Kourou.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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1985<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Development of the Hermes spaceplane is proposed.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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1986<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The Giotto probe encounters Halley\u2019s Comet.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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1987<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Development of programmes for Ariane 5, Columbus and Hermes is approved.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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1988<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Collaboration agreement with NASA on the Freedom Space station
(now the International Space Station).<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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1989<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Hipparcos, the first astrometric satellite, is launched.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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1990<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Launch of the Hubble Space Telescope.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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1991<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Launch of the ERS-1 satellite.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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1992<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Six new astronauts, including Spaniard Pedro Duque, are selected by ESA.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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1993<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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STS-61, first repair mission for the Hubble Space Telescope.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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1994<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Ulf Merbold, the first ESA astronaut to fly to the MIR station.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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1995<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The world\u2019s first infrared observatory, ESA\u2019s ISO, is launched.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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1996<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Failed maiden flight of Ariane 5 (flight 501).<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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1997<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The Cassini-Huygens probe begins its journey to Saturn.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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1998<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Official creation of the European Astronaut Corps.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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1999<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The first operational flight of Ariane 5 takes place, with the XMM-Newton satellite on board.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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2000<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The four-satellite Cluster constellation is launched.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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2001\n\n<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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First visit by a European astronaut, Umberto Guidoni, to the International Space Station.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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2002\n<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The then-largest Earth observation satellite, Envisat, is launched into Space.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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2003\n<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Mars Express, ESA\u2019s first mission to Mars, begins its journey.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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2004\n<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Rosetta, the first mission designed to orbit and land on a comet, is launched.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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2005\n<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Launch of Venus Express from Baikonur on a Starsem Soyuz-Fregat launcher.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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2006\n<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Launch of MetOp-A from Baikonur.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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2007\n<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Twenty-nine European countries adopt a Resolution on the European Space Policy.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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2008\n<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Europe sends Jules Verne, the first Automated Transfer Vehicle, to the International Space Station.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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2009\n<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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A double success: launch of the Herschel Space Observatory and the Planck Observatory.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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2010\n<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Launch of the CryoSat-2 \u201cice mission\u201d.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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2011\n<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The ESA Council grants observer status to 10 states that are members of the EU, but not of ESA: Bulgaria, Cyprus, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovak Republic and Slovenia.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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2012\n<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Poland becomes the twentieth ESA member state.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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2013\n<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The Gaia Space telescope blasts off to create the most accurate map of the Milky Way to date.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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2014\n<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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During the Ministerial Council in Luxembourg, the development of Ariane 6 and Vega C and the European Space exploration strategy are approved, covering ESA\u2019s three exploration destinations (LEO orbit, Moon and Mars) and the evolution of ESA, covering ESA\u2019s vision until 2030.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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2015\n<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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LISA Pathfinder lifts off to test the technology needed to create Space-based gravitational wave detectors.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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2016\n<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Launch of ExoMars TGO 2016 from Baikonur.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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2017\n<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Approval of the proposal for the LISA mission<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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2018\n<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Launch of Copernicus Sentinel-3B.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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2019\n<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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ESA\u2019s first exoplanet mission, CHEOPS, is launched.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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2020\n<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The Solar Orbiter mission kicks off.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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2021\n<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Ariane 5 flight VA255 sets a record, with its heaviest payload to geostationary transfer orbit to date (approximately 10,263 kg).<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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2022\n<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThe new class of astronauts is announced, including five career astronauts, 11 members of an astronaut reserve and the first Spanish ESA astronaut with a disability, Pablo \u00c1lvarez.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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2023\n\n<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Launch of the Juice mission, to explore Jupiter\u2019s icy moons, and Euclid, to improve our understanding of dark energy and dark matter.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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2024\n\n<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Hera and Proba-3 missions launched.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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2025\n\n<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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50 ESA Anniversary, congratulations!<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tIn five decades, the ESA has evolved from an institutional promise to a global leader, ensuring Europe\u2019s sovereign access to Space. Today, its technical infrastructure is structured around a network of specialised centres spread across Europe. \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAmong these, ESTEC, the Agency\u2019s technological hub in the Netherlands, stands out, housing more than 90 laboratories, welcoming thousands of visitors each year, and bringing together professionals from over 40 nationalities. But facilities such as ESOC (European Space Operations Centre) in Germany, dedicated to controlling and operating ESA\u2019s satellites and Space probes, ESAC (European Space Astronomy Centre) in Spain, which houses the scientific archives of the missions, and ESEC in Belgium, dedicated to Space security and education, are also essential. \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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ESA celebrates 50 years as a global space leader. Spain plays a key strategic role in infrastructure, missions and in building the future of European space\u201d<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tIn particular, Spain plays a strategic role in mission tracking and control, thanks to stations such as VIL-1 in Villafranca del Castillo (Madrid) and CEB in Cebreros (\u00c1vila), which are part of the ESA\u2019s ESTRACK network -a series of Space tracking ground stations operated by ESOC.\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThe ESA structures its activity around five major pillars: science, Earth observation, navigation, Space transportation, and human and robotic exploration. This programmatic architecture makes it possible to address global challenges such as climate change, planetary defence, secure connectivity and the exploration of the universe. \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWithin this framework, Strategy 2040 establishes five major goals: to protect the planet and climate, to explore and discover, to strengthen European autonomy and resilience, to drive growth and competitiveness, and to inspire Europe.\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tEach of these goals translates into concrete programmes: TRUTHS and the new generation of Copernicus reinforce environmental monitoring; Moonlight and the European service module for Artemis consolidate European presence on the Moon; IRIS\u00b2 guarantees secure and sovereign connectivity; Space Rider opens the door to reusable services and the in-orbit economy. \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tIn the field of security, Strategy 2040 makes distinctions between the security of Space \u2014focused on the protection of the orbital environment, Space weather and planetary defence\u2014 and security from Space, which promotes the use of Space capabilities to anticipate and manage natural or man-made crises. The latter is structured as a cross-cutting strategic line, combining observation, connectivity and navigation to strengthen European resilience against global threats. \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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However, at this moment, the European, international, and geopolitical landscape present serious challenges.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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In 2019, Europe accounted for 15% of the global Space budget; five years later, that figure fell to 10%, a difference that the United States increased from 56% to 61%, consolidating its position as the undisputed leader in Space investment. The rest of the budget is distributed between China (15%), Japan (5%), Russia (3%), India (1%) and other countries.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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This distribution reflects an increasingly significant imbalance in investment capacity, which in many cases reveals differences in the development of technologies, infrastructures and strategic autonomy. In addition, if we consider the Space budget per citizen, while in Europe it is 26 euros, in the USA it reaches 219 euros (more than eight times the former), which represents a permanent challenge in terms of competitiveness and response capacity.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Even so, fifty years after that 30th of May 1975, looking back is looking at a story of overcoming, cooperation and shared vision. The ESA has shown that Europe can reach for the stars when it joins forces, and that Space is not only a scientific frontier, but also a powerful tool to improve life on Earth.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHoy, m\u00e1s que nunca, necesitamos que esa ambici\u00f3n se renueve. Que la pasi\u00f3n por el Espacio inspire a nuevas generaciones, no solo por el reto tecnol\u00f3gico, sino por el impacto positivo que tiene en nuestra sociedad: desde la gesti\u00f3n del medio ambiente hasta la conectividad global, desde la seguridad hasta la educaci\u00f3n.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Today, more than ever, we need that ambition to be renewed. May the passion for Space inspire new generations, not only for the technological challenge, but also for the positive impact it has on our society: from environmental management to global connectivity, from security to education.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Because we deserve it, because we have already demonstrated it, and because the future of European Space is also written in Spanish.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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A look towards sovereignty, opportunities and security<\/h5>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSpace has consolidated itself as a key strategic player in a world marked by global challenges, geopolitical tensions and growing technological dependence. From being a remote environment, it has become an essential dimension for the protection of the planet, the security of critical infrastructures and international stability.\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tToday, Space surveillance, orbital traffic management and the development of autonomous capabilities stand as essential pillars to guarantee Europe\u2019s resilience and sovereignty. In this context, Space represents not only a defence frontier, but also a driver of economic growth, innovation and diplomacy.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Objective 2040<\/h5>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAware of these challenges and opportunities, the European Space Agency presented its Strategy 2040 in March 2025, an ambitious roadmap that sets the course for the continent in the coming decades. This strategy is structured around five major objectives:\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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