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🎉 #50YearsOfESA: we're 50 today and #ESAarchives organised a special gift for the occasion! 👇
© ESA ECSR ESTEC-PHOTO - General view of the Plenipotentiaries (and press) in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Paris on 30 May 1975 when the Swiss Ambassador, Pierre Dupont, was the last to sign the Final Act.
May 30, 2025 at 7:46 PM
science.esa.int
A very special opening of material from the #ESAarchives celebrates the 40th anniversary of Giotto’s historic flyby of Comet Halley, in photos, images and documentation 👉 https://historicalarchives.esa.int/giotto-cometary-encounters-and-archival-sources 2/3
ESA Giotto Project Manager making a presentation.
March 14, 2026 at 1:30 PM
esa.int
Fifty years ago this month, the ESA Convention was signed at the Conference of Plenipotentiaries in Paris - 30 May 1975 - and ESA was operational the following day. But that wasn’t the last of the procedures that had to be followed... 🤔

Read the full story from #ESAArchives 👇

#50YearsOfESA
Discussions between European ministers and delegates at the signature ceremony of the ESA Convention in Paris on 30 May 1975 - ESTEC-PHOTO-1975.05.402-003
May 21, 2025 at 9:13 AM
esa.int
Find out how the Pierre Auger/Edoardo Amaldi partnership laid foundations for ESA in a special opening from #ESAarchives looking back at Pierre Auger’s career.

historicalarchives.esa.int/special-open... #Roadto1975 #50YearsOfESA
Prof. Auger and his wife Suzanne at a ceremony in Paris in 1974 for the 10th anniversary of the ESRO organisation. Pierre Auger in his Paris apartment (ESA ECSR)
April 8, 2025 at 8:58 AM
esa.int
Join the #ESAarchives as they take a look at the very last chapter in the creation of ESA - from the signature in 1975 to the entry into force of the ESA Convention in 1980 (and find out why it matters!) 😮

🔗 historicalarchives.esa.int/signature-co...
Article 21 of the ESA Convention © ESA ECSR Resolution of the ESRO Council, 16 April 1975 © ESA ECSR
May 21, 2025 at 9:17 AM
eurospacehistory.bsky.social
A very special opening of material from the #ESAarchives celebrates the 40th anniversary of Giotto’s historic flyby of Comet Halley, in photos, images and documentation.

historicalarchives.esa.int/giotto-comet...
ESA Giotto project manager David Dale presenting mission to press at encounter media event, 13 March 1986 ( © ESA ECSR) Giotto flight operations summary for 13 March 1986 ( © ESA ECSR)
March 13, 2026 at 11:18 AM
eurospacehistory.bsky.social
More key dates from European space history on the #ESAarchives timeline 👇

historicalarchives.esa.int/europe-space...
July 11, 2025 at 10:20 PM
eui-euarchives.bsky.social
☄️Catch that shooting star!
📚 Apply for an ESA Grant at the Historical Archives of the EU
📆 Deadline: 31 July
More info: https://loom.ly/5gArtgA
#ESAArchives #grants #research #CFA @esa.int

Comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko, captured by Rosetta.
Image credit: ESA/Rosetta/Navcam – CC BY-SA IGO 3.0
Comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko, captured by Rosetta. Image credit: ESA/Rosetta/Navcam – CC BY-SA IGO 3.0 https://www.flickr.com/photos/europeanspaceagency/19721134803/in/album-72157654544894963/
July 28, 2025 at 1:53 PM
eurospacehistory.bsky.social
What was ESRO's ‘Blue Book’? How did it come about and what is its wider significance, both then and now?

Check out the latest deep dive from #ESAarchives to 1961! 👇
Cover of ESRO's Report of the Scientific and Technical Working Group to COPERS, December 1961, in blue!
February 11, 2026 at 1:30 PM
eurospacehistory.bsky.social
#50YearsOfESA

This month 50 years ago: 15 April 1975, the European Space Conference in Brussels adopts text of the Convention for a new European Space Agency, leaving just one final step before ESA could become a reality. See April's #ESAarchives #ObjectOfTheMonth

🔗 historicalarchives.esa.int#oom
The European Space Conference held at the Palais d’Egmont, Brussels, on 15 April 1975, which approved the final draft of the ESA Convention.
April 24, 2025 at 11:01 AM
esaconnectivity.esa.int
What lasted 18 years but was only meant for 7?

Marecs B2, launched #OTD in 1984 on an Ariane 3! 🛰️

One of Europe’s first telecom satellites, keeping ships connected with alerts, forecasts and news.🚢

A true overachiever in space history🌍

@eurospacehistory.bsky.social #ESAarchives
Ariane 3 rocket launching in the dark. Cloud of smoke on the lower part.
November 10, 2025 at 10:05 AM
eurospacehistory.bsky.social
#50YearsOfESA

🥳 #ESAarchives are kicking off their celebrations for the 50 years of @esa.int! Join us for a recap of how European space organisations have celebrated past anniversaries (from 1974 to today).

historicalarchives.esa.int/european-spa...
Cover of ESRO Bulletin, March 1974, blue and silver Cover of ESA Bulletin, May 1989, silver with 25 years graphic Sticker for 25 years of cooperation in space, 1964-1989
January 22, 2025 at 11:19 AM
eurospacehistory.bsky.social
The first opening from the #ESAarchives in 2026 deals with material that dates back some 30 years, to 1992 and the #InternationalSpaceYear (ISY), to the beginnings of a coordinated European approach to Earth observation for environmental protection 🧪🌏

historicalarchives.esa.int/volumes-inte...
Remote sensing forest map of Europe, created for the ISY © ESA ECSR International Space Year (ISY) logo © ESA ECSR
January 20, 2026 at 2:51 PM
eurospacehistory.bsky.social
For #InternationalArchivesWeek 2026, #ESAarchives talks about the preservation challenges faced in real life, far away from the textbooks and theory.

historicalarchives.esa.int/brief-histor...

@eui-eu.bsky.social @eui-eu.bsky.social @eui-euarchives.bsky.social
June 10, 2026 at 2:02 PM
eurospacehistory.bsky.social
#ESAarchives are prolonging celebrations for the 40th anniversary of Giotto's flyby of Comet Halley, taking a look at the guest book for the ‘Night of the Comet’ organised at ESA ESOC mission control on 13 March 1986.
Page for Giotto encounter with Halley Page for ERS-1 launch event Page for Integral launch event
March 29, 2026 at 1:11 PM
eurospacehistory.bsky.social
The latest #ESAarchives article on the history of preservation reveals some of the more bizarre things they've found in shipments (😮🤭) and explains how colleagues and users can play a part in appraising and accessing material.

historicalarchives.esa.int/brief-histor... @eui-euarchives.bsky.social
Archive access 1970s style © ESA ECSR
October 31, 2025 at 11:46 AM
eui-euarchives.bsky.social
🚀 Only 10 days left to apply for the ESA Grant!
Two grants support original research using ESA historical archives at the Historical Archives of the European Union. 🛰️📚
ℹ️ https://loom.ly/5gArtgA
#ResearchGrant #SpaceHistory #ESAArchives @esa.int
May 21, 2026 at 2:04 PM
eurospacehistory.bsky.social
With #Farnborough Airshow 2026 now on, the #ESAarchives are taking us back to the 1980 version!

See how live satellite linkups worked almost 50 years ago on the ESA stand! Come visit! 😉

historicalarchives.esa.int#oom @esa.int @esaconnectivity.esa.int @ukspaceagency.bsky.social
July 23, 2026 at 1:25 PM
eurospacehistory.bsky.social
October’s #ObjectOfTheMonth from #ESAarchives digs into the handover from ESRO to ESA in 1975, seen through the lens of its 'Communication Satellites Programme Board'. More on this 'new' ESA committee👇

historicalarchives.esa.int#oom #50YearsOfESA @eui-euarchives.bsky.social @esaconnectivity.esa.int
Minutes from the first meeting of ESA Communication Satellites Programme Board (PB-Tel) 1976 artist’s impression of meeting room for the new ESA HQ building, rue Mario Nikis, Paris
October 16, 2025 at 12:17 PM
eurospacehistory.bsky.social
While #ESAarchives are getting ready to open historical photos from 1982 this month, here’s a sneak preview of how the year started: February's #ObjectOfTheMonth explains the mechanisms for qualification of the Ariane launcher in January 1982, 44 years ago!

historicalarchives.esa.int#oom
Resolution of the Ariane Launcher Programme Board ©ESA ECSR Cover of press kit for Ariane L04 launch © ESA ECSR
February 4, 2026 at 10:36 AM
eurospacehistory.bsky.social
September's Object of the Month from the #ESAarchives stays with our recent run of 1980s nostalgia! Find out more about this ESA ESOC staff ID card and its fantastic late-80s branding 👇

historicalarchives.esa.int#oom

@esa.int @operations.esa.int @de.esa.int
ESA thumbprint logo in light blue with ESA ESOC name/site text in ESA font on a black and white grid ESA ESOC Main Control Room, 1986 (pic: ESA) Aerial view of ESA ESOC, Darmstadt, 1991 (pic: ESA)
September 4, 2026 at 10:06 AM
eurospacehistory.bsky.social
#ESAarchives looks at another chapter in the story of ESA's Science programme, going back to the 1980s and the ‘Green Book’ (our shorthand!), also known as 'Recommendations on the development of space science in the 1980s' 🧪🔭

historicalarchives.esa.int/green-book-f... #Space #History #SpaceHistory
Black and white illustration for book cover, showing satellites over a cloudy European continent as seen from space
July 20, 2026 at 2:20 PM
eurospacehistory.bsky.social
The #ESAarchives are starting ESA’s 50th year with inspiring words from the ESA Convention on a glass paperweight – and a request for any information on the provenance of this mystery piece of merchandising!
🔗 historicalarchives.esa.int#oom #50YearsOfESA
January 10, 2025 at 2:03 PM
eurospacehistory.bsky.social
Some special news for International Archives Week #IAW2025, #ESAarchives talks about accessibility and authenticity in a world of AI-generated content. Find out how archives can be your badge of verification for historical material. #ArchivesAreAccessible

historicalarchives.esa.int/archives-bad...
ESTEC-PHOTO-1974.02.029 – 1974 computer for testing ESTEC-PHOTO-1978.12.519 – Meteosat computer room
June 11, 2025 at 3:08 PM
eurospacehistory.bsky.social
#ESAarchives kicks off 2026 with a look back at ERS-1, the first environmental monitoring satellite developed by ESA, and the origins of European Earth observation for environmental protection – more about this model too, in #ObjectOfTheMonth 👇
historicalarchives.esa.int#oom
Model of ERS-1 ESA BR-75, the Data Book of ERS-1, the European Remote Sensing Satellite The ERS-1 spacecraft in launch configuration at ESA ESTEC
January 9, 2026 at 4:05 PM