A staple of the ESA's Science Doctrine is the
Cosmic Vision programme, a series of
space science missions chosen by the ESA to launch through competitions, similar to
NASA's
Discovery and
New Frontiers programmes. It succeeds the Horizon 2000 and Horizon 2000+ programmes which launched notable missions such as Huygens, Rosetta and Gaia. Each space science mission are divided into two categories: "Sun and Solar System", missions studying the
Solar System, and "Astrophysics", missions studying interstellar
astronomy. A similarly operated programme focused on
Earth observation, known as the
Living Planet Programme, has launched various "Earth Explorers" such as
GOCE and
Swarm, which serve many forms of
Geoscience individually. A number of missions by the ESA have also launched and operated outside of a canonical programme, as is the case with missions such as Giotto, Ulysses, and Mars Express.
Cornerstone 1 – Cluster, launched June 1996, failed –
Earth observation mission using four identical spacecraft to study the planet's
magnetosphere. Failed on launch.[1][2]
Re-launch – Cluster II, launched July and August 2000, operational – Successful replacement mission.[3]
Cornerstone 2 – XMM-Newton, launched December 1999, operational – An
X-rayspace telescope, studying the full range of cosmic X-ray sources.[4][5]
Cornerstone 4 – Herschel, launched May 2009, completed –
Infrared space observatory mission for general astronomy.[6][8]
Medium-sized missions
Medium 1 – Huygens, launched October 1997, completed –
Titan lander component of the Cassini–Huygens mission; first landing in the outer solar system.[9]
Medium 2 – INTEGRAL, launched October 2002, operational – Gamma ray space observatory, also capable of observing X-ray and visible wavelengths.[10]
Mission 1 – Gaia, launched December 2013, operational –
Astrometry mission measuring positions and distances of over one billion objects in the
Milky Way.
S2 – SMILE, launching 2025, future – Joint ESA-
CASEarth observation mission, studying the interaction between the planet's magnetosphere and
solar wind.[15]
M-class missions
M1 – Solar Orbiter, launched February 2020, operational – Solar observatory mission, designed to perform in-situ studies of the Sun at a perihelion of 0.28
astronomical units.
M2 – Euclid, launched July 2023, operational – Visible and near-infrared space observatory mission focused on
dark matter and
dark energy.
M3 – PLATO, launching 2026, future – Kepler-like space observatory mission, aimed at discovering and observing exoplanets.
M4 – ARIEL, launching 2029, future – Planck-based space observatory mission studying the atmosphere of known exoplanets.[16]
F2 – ARRAKIHS, launching in the early 2030s, future – Survey of one hundred nearby galaxies and their surroundings to investigate
dwarf galaxies and
stellar streams.
Earth Explorer 1 – GOCE, launched March 2009, completed —
Gravimetry mission, aimed at accurately mapping Earth's
gravity field.
Earth Explorer 5 – ADM-Aeolus, re-entry July 2023, completed –
Meteorology mission, performed by a spacecraft equipped to create global wind component profiles to aid more advanced
weather forecasting.
Earth Explorer 6 – EarthCARE, launching early 2024, future – Joint ESA-
JAXA meteorology and
climatology mission, aimed at the characterization of clouds and
aerosols, along with measurements of reflected and emitted
radiation from Earth's surface.
Earth Explorer 7 – Biomass, launching 2024, future –
Ecology mission, studying the
carbon cycle and
forest ecology, observing the development of forests and their characteristics.
Earth Explorer 9 – FORUM, launching 2027, future –
Climatology mission, aimed at measuring far-infrared
outgoing radiation emissions in order to understand Earth's surface temperature regulation.
Opportunity missions
Earth Explorer 2 – SMOS, launched November 2009, operational — Climatology mission, focused on studying Earth's
water cycle and
climate.
Earth Explorer 4 – Swarm, launched November 2013, operational —
Magnetosphere mission, carried out by a trio of spacecraft launched to study
Earth's magnetic field.
Earth Explorer 8 – FLEX, launching 2026, future –
Biology mission, aimed at measuring the amount of
chlorophyll fluorescence in terrestrial vegetation.
Non-programme missions
Past
ARD, launched October 1998 – Demonstration mission to test new technologies in
atmospheric entry design.
ECS family, launched June 1983 to July 1988 – Joint
Eutelsat-ESA mission to launch the first generation of EUTELSAT telecommunication satellites.
Envisat, launched March 2002 – Earth observation mission focused on
environmental studies, using the largest civilian Earth observation satellite ever launched.
ERS-1 and ERS-2, launched July 1991 and April 1995 – ESA's first Earth observation missions.
EURECA, launched August 1992 – microgravity testbed mission carrying a suite of fifteen instruments from various European national space administrations.
GEOS-1 and GEOS-2, launched April 1977 and July 1978 – Magnetospheric reconnaissance mission, consisting experimental payloads by various European national space administrations.
Hipparcos, launched August 1989 – First
astrometry mission ever launched, focused on cataloguing over 118,200 stars in the eponymous Hipparcos Catalogue, published in 1997.
ISO, launched November 1995 –
Infrared space observatory mission for general astronomy.
IXV, launched February 2015 – Experimental suborbital re-entry vehicle; demonstration mission for reusable launchers.
IUE, launched January 1978 – Joint NASA-ESA-
SERCultraviolet space observatory mission for general astronomy.
MARECS family, launched December 1981 to November 1984 – Joint
Inmarsat-ESA program which launched a satellite duo to create a global maritime communications network. MARECS B failed on launch.
Olympus, launched July 1989 – telecommunications mission pioneering high-power transmitters, multi-spot beam
Ka band technology and on-board switching.
SSETI Express, launched October 2005 – Student demonstration mission, sponsored by the ESA Education Office, which launched three
CubeSats to take pictures of the Earth and serve as a radio
transponder.
SMART-1, launched September 2003 – Demonstration mission for
solar electric propulsion, manifesting in a
lunar orbiter mission carrying low-cost, miniaturised instruments.
Ulysses, launched October 1990 – Joint ESA-NASA
Solar observatory mission, employing a spacecraft in a polar heliocentric orbit.
Venus Express, launched November 2005 –
Venus orbiter mission, focused on long-term study and observation of its
atmosphere from polar cytherocentric orbit.
YES2, launched September 2007 – Student demonstration mission, sponsored by the ESA Education Office, which deployed a 31.7 km-long
space tethered constellation of satellites. Partial launch failure.
Meteosat (first generation), launched November 1977 to September 1997 – Joint
EUMETSAT-ESA
meteorology mission consisting seven
geostationary satellites launched over a period of twenty years. Meteosat-7 re-orbiting commenced on 3-April-2017.
GIOVE-B, launched April 2008 – Second demonstration mission testing technologies for the Galileo satellite navigation system. Retired in 2012.
Current
Alphasat, launched July 2013 – Joint
Inmarsat-ESA mission to launch an advanced
geostationary communication satellite to serve Africa, Asia and Europe; the largest ever built by Europe.
Mars Express, launched June 2003 –
Mars orbiter mission focused on observing the planet through high-resolution imagery and conducting research of the planet's interaction with the solar system.
MSG, launched January 2004 to July 2015 – Joint EUMETSAT-ESA meteorology mission to launch the second generation of Meteosat satellites, of which four were launched over a period of eleven years.
MTG, launched December 2022 onward – Joint EUMETSAT-ESA meteorology mission to launch the third generation of Meteosat satellites.
MetOp (first generation), launched October 2006 to 2018 – Joint EUMETSAT-ESA operational meteorology mission consisting three satellites launched over a period of twelve years.
PROBA-1, launched October 2001 –
Microsatellite earth observation and Low Earth Orbit technology demonstration mission for various new instruments.
PROBA-2, launched November 2009 – Microsatellite earth observation and Low Earth Orbit technology demonstration mission, serving as the second flight in the Proba series.
PROBA-V, launched May 2013 – Microsatellite earth observation mission focused on mapping land cover and vegetation growth across Earth in bi-daily cycles; the third mission in the Proba series.
JUICE, launched April 2023 – mission to study Jupiter's three icy moons
Callisto,
Europa and
Ganymede, eventually orbiting Ganymede as the first spacecraft to orbit a satellite of another planet.
Future
YPSat, ESA’s Young Professionals Satellite, launching July 2024 – Satellite designed and produced entirely by young professionals at ESA, launching aboard the inaugural flight of Ariane 6 to record the fairing separation and provide in-orbit imagery of the Earth.
PROBA-3, launching in 2024 – Microsatellite solar observation and
formation flying demonstration mission, serving as the fourth flight in the Proba series.
MetOp-SG, launching ~2025 onward – Joint EUMETSAT-ESA operational meteorology mission, launching the second generation of
MetOp satellites, of which a constellation of six will be launched.
Lunar Lander, proposed launch in 2018 – Demonstration mission aimed at testing new technologies in lunar landing, including autonomous redirects. Project put on hold due to lack of financial support, as of 2012.
Marco Polo – a
sample-return mission focused on collecting and returning a sample from a
Near-Earth object. Proposed for the M1, M2, M3, M4 and M5 missions of the Cosmic Vision programme, it has since been rejected all five times.
ODINUS – A dual
Uranus and
Neptune orbital mission. Proposed for the L2 and L3 missions of the Cosmic Vision programme, but eliminated from the running both times.
STE-QUEST –
Astrophysics demonstration mission focused on testing the
equivalence principle. Finalist for the M3 slot in the Cosmic Vision programme, but lost to PLATO.
Darwin – Proposed
exoplanetary science mission focused on directly detecting Earth-like
exoplanets. Proposed as a cornerstone for the Horizon 2000+ programme, but abandoned in 2007.
Don Quijote – Concept for a demonstration mission, testing technologies in
asteroid deflection. Abandoned after lack of interest from the ESA.
EChO – Space observatory mission aimed at
exoplanetary science, employing high resolution, multi-wavelength spectroscopic observations. Finalist for the M3 slot in the Cosmic Vision programme, but lost to PLATO. Succeeded by
ARIEL as the M4 mission.
Eddington – Concept for an
asteroseismology mission designed to detect exoplanets. Cancelled in 2003.
EXPERT – Concept for a flying hypersonic re-entry vehicle with cooperation with
Roscosmos. Indefinitely postponed since 2012, due to Roscosmos' withdrawal from the project.
Hermes – Proposed
human spaceflight program centered around a CNES-designed reusable
spaceplane. Project cancelled in 1992 due to difficulties with achieving financial and scientific goals.
Hopper – Successor concept to Hermes. Cancelled in 2005 after lack of interest.
Atmospheric Reentry Demonstrator – suborbital reentry test flown on the third Ariane 5 flightPages displaying wikidata descriptions as a fallback