European Space Agency's March 2026 Highlights
The European Space Agency (ESA) has published its highlights for 2026, marking a critical period of activity and milestones for European space exploration and commercialization. The agency's focus remains on deep space exploration, satellite technology, and international cooperation.
Hera Mission: Deep Space Manoeuvre
One of the most anticipated events is the Hera deep space manoeuvre scheduled for February-March. In preparation for the arrival at the Didymos system in November, Hera will execute a precise trajectory change, demonstrating the ESA's continued commitment to asteroid monitoring and planetary defense. The mission involves an 'impulsive rendezvous' in October, further enhancing our understanding of celestial mechanics.
Space Comm Expo 2026 in London
The annual Space Comm Expo, held on 5-6 March in London, served as a pivotal event for space commercialisation and investors. This gathering brought together international investors and industry participants to discuss the commercialisation of space technology. The event highlighted the transition from research to market application in the space sector.
Amsterdam Space Symposium
On 3-4 March, the conference was hosted at the Beurs van Berlage in Amsterdam. This conference brought together agencies in space and defence domains alongside space industry participants, fostering collaboration across borders and disciplines.
Plato Mission Preparation
ESA's Plato mission, standing for PLAnetary Transits and Oscillations of stars, is entering the final stages of preparation for launch in Q1. The mission aims to measure exoplanets and characterise their host stars, a crucial step in understanding planetary habitability. Meet the team and the spacecraft that will hunt for rocky planets in the habitable zones of other stars.
Future Outlook and ESA Council
Following the busy first half of March, the ESA Council will be hosted by Switzerland on 18-19 March. This meeting will focus on post-council media information sessions, discussing the agency's strategy and future missions. Registration details and connections for those attending remotely will be sent by ESA media relations.
"Times and dates are subject to change. Last update: 20 February 2026."
This strategic alignment ensures that ESA remains at the forefront of space technology and exploration, balancing scientific discovery with commercial opportunities.