
@esa #EarthObservation: Taking the pulse of our planet from space. Please see our Privacy Notice: https://xitter.cf/t.co/zzMYcxj8xi
Joined April 2011
- Tweets31K
- Following2.7K
- Followers144K
- Likes42.4K
Two satellites launched, two signals received 📡
FLEX and @CopernicusEU Sentinel-3C are both in orbit and in contact with ground teams.
✅ Signals acquired. FLEX and Sentinel-3C are in orbit and healthy.
Following launch on Vega-C, the two Earth observation satellites now begin commissioning. Together, they will advance our understanding of Earth's vegetation and support the continued monitoring of our oceans, land, ice and atmosphere. 🌍
🔗 esa.int/Applications/Observi…
ESA's FLEX has joined the chat✅
First contact with our newest Earth Explorer has been established.
We hear you! @esa 's #FLEX spacecraft has phoned home. 📞
At 5:22 CEST, teams at #ESOC mission control acquired the first signal from the spacecraft via @KSAT_Kongsberg 's Svalbard station. 📡
We now have signal from both spacecraft in this unique dual launch. 🛰️🛰️
📷 ESA/ATG medialab
End of the line for FLEX! 🛰️
@esa's FLEX satellite has separated from Vega-C and is officially flying solo.
Thanks for the ride, @ESA_transport 👋
And… we’re connected!
@CopernicusEU Sentinel-3C has just sent back its first signall! 📢
Hello @CopernicusEU #Sentinel-3C – we hear you loud and clear!
@KSAT_Kongsburg's Troll ground station in Antarctica has acquired the satellite's first signal from space. 📡
Telemetry is now flowing into @esa's #ESOC mission control in Germany. 🛰️
📷 ESA/ATG medialab
There's a new version of this post
Update from space ✨
@CopernicusEU Sentinel-3C just separated from the Vega-C rocket, leaving onboard only the FLEX spacecraft, due to separate later.
ESA Earth Observation retweeted
🔴 Live now: follow the launch of FLEX and Sentinel-3C.
🔗 youtube.com/watch?v=fmrgyh5s…
FLEX and Sentinel-3C are ready for liftoff on Vega-C from Europe's Spaceport.
▶️ Tune in tonight on 15 September from 02:50 CEST.
🚀 Liftoff is scheduled for 03:21 CEST.
While the FLEX mission will monitor the health of Earth’s vegetation, Sentinel-3C, together with the two Sentinel-3 satellites already in orbit, will monitor oceans, land, ice and atmosphere for Copernicus, the Earth observation component of the European Union’s Space Programme.
🔗esa.int/Applications/Observi…
Almost time for FLEX and @CopernicusEU Sentinel-3C 🚀
Tune in from 02:50 CEST on 15 September to follow the dual launch!👇
FLEX and Sentinel-3C are ready for liftoff on Vega-C from Europe's Spaceport.
▶️ Tune in tonight on 15 September from 02:50 CEST.
🚀 Liftoff is scheduled for 03:21 CEST.
While the FLEX mission will monitor the health of Earth’s vegetation, Sentinel-3C, together with the two Sentinel-3 satellites already in orbit, will monitor oceans, land, ice and atmosphere for Copernicus, the Earth observation component of the European Union’s Space Programme.
🔗esa.int/Applications/Observi…
ESA Earth Observation retweeted
Success! ✅ MTG-I2 is on its way to geostationary orbit.
After acquiring signal, the satellite has been confirmed healthy.
As the third satellite in the Meteosat Third Generation constellation, MTG-I2 will provide weather forecasters with unprecedented views of Europe and Africa, helping to improve forecasts and deliver earlier warnings of severe weather.
🔗 esa.int/Newsroom/Press_Relea…
Thanks for the ride, @ESA_transport!
MTG-I2 just separated from Ariane 6.
The satellite will now slowly move from Geostationary Transfer orbit to Geostationary orbit, its destination.
A @CopernicusEU Sentinel‑3 snapshot of Europe’s land surface temperatures (23 June):
Purple = hottest spots
Madrid 48°C, Tunis 49°C, Zaragoza 46°C, Poitier 46°C, Rome 44°C 🔥
esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Image…
Good news: economic growth doesn’t have to come at the expense of air quality. Using @CopernicusEU Sentinel-5P data, researchers found many major cities are growing while cutting NO₂ - read the full story⬇️
esa.int/Applications/Observi…
Are you feeling the heat too?🥵
A heatwave is driving temperatures far above average across much of Western Europe and the UK, with record May temperatures reported in several countries.
This map shows land surface temperatures across Europe, using @CopernicusEU Sentinel-3 data from 26 May 2026.
🔗esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Image…

ALT Map of Europe showing land surface temperatures on 26 May 2026, with a colour scale ranging from blue (cooler, below 10 °C) to dark red (very hot, above 50 °C). Large areas of Western and Southern Europe appear in orange and red, indicating high surface temperatures during a heatwave, particularly over Spain, France, Italy and the UK. Northern and northeastern regions, including Scandinavia and parts of Eastern Europe, are shown in lighter colours and blue, indicating cooler conditions. Major cities including London, Paris, Madrid, Rome and Budapest are marked.
Two national EO missions were launched yesterday onboard a @SpaceX Falcon-9 rocket:
🛰️Italy's @IrideSpazio (esa.int/Applications/Observi…)
🛰️Greece's Hellenic Fire System (esa.int/Applications/Observi…)
Credits: SpaceX
ESA Earth Observation retweeted
Following the mandate given by our Member States to step up @ESA’s role in security and defence, this agreement marks a meaningful move from intent to delivery. Through initiatives such as the European Resilience from Space (ERS), ESA is already responding to Europe’s urgent security capability needs.
Strengthening our partnership with the @EUDefenceAgency allows us to align technology development more closely with both current and future operational and strategic requirements.
👩🚀 On 22 April, we signed an arrangement with
@esa to better study space-based Earth observation technology for #security and #defence.
➡️ Read more: tinyurl.com/2utscdyd
It's hot - and we can "see" it from space: On 21 March, Copernicus Sentinel-3 measured widespread land surface temperatures exceeding 40°C🥵
Recent extreme heat across the central and southwestern US and Mexico pushed ground temperatures far above seasonal norms according to @NOAA data.
These extreme temperatures and winter rain have triggered a super bloom in some areas. On 20 March 2026, satellites captured expanded flower cover across Antelope Valley and Grass Valley — a rare burst of colour driven by the same unusual conditions.
ESA Earth Observation retweeted
#MediaInvitation: journalists are invited to join a one‑off opportunity to see three ESA-built satellites in their final preparations before liftoff, at @Thales_Alenia_S, Cannes, on 16 April 2026.
Register by 31 March 👉 esa.int/Newsroom/Press_Relea…
France has endured 35 consecutive days of rain.
One striking example:
According to @Vigicrues, the Garonne at Marmande rose from 3.50 m on 10 February to over 10 m by 14 February.
Here are 3 images that show the impact of the heavy rainfall from space:
• Accumulated rainfall map (9–18 February 2026) using data from the @NASA/@JAXA_en GPM mission
• Sentinel‑1 radar image (flooded areas in red)
• Sentinel‑2 true‑colour view of the same region
Our thoughts are with the communities affected as the region continues to face challenging conditions.
What does the latest research tell us about Earth's changing climate?
The '10 New Insights in Climate Science 2025' report highlights ten key findings, including accelerating ocean warming, record‑breaking global heat and reduced carbon uptake on land.
Read more:
esa.int/Applications/Observi…
📹contains modified Copernicus Marine Service data (CNR, Buongiorno et. al.), processed by ESA




















