The ESA-developed Sentinel-2B satellite was launched today, doubling the coverage of high-resolution optical imaging in the Sentinel-2 mission for the European Union Copernicus environmental monitoring system.

The ESA-developed Sentinel-2B satellite was launched today, doubling the coverage of high-resolution optical imaging in the Sentinel-2 mission for the European Union Copernicus environmental monitoring system.

Watch the replay of the Sentinel-2B launch on a Vega rocket from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana

Watch the replay of the Sentinel-2B launch on a Vega rocket from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana

JPL’s Cold Atom Laboratory will let scientists study bizarre physics in space.

JPL’s Cold Atom Laboratory will let scientists study bizarre physics in space.

… including comets.

Jeanette Epps will launch into history next year.

It won’t visit again for a very long time.

The Sentinel-2A satellite shows us where its twin, Sentinel-2B, will be launched from tonight – its last stop before space

Space Science Image of the Week: BepiColombo’s Mercury Planetary Orbiter opens its solar wing

Mission teams on two continents completed a pre-launch ‘dress rehearsal’ yesterday, ensuring everything is ready for Sentinel-2B liftoff next week.

Mission teams on two continents completed a pre-launch ‘dress rehearsal’ yesterday, ensuring everything is ready for Sentinel-2B liftoff next week.

Live from ESA’s Space Operations Centre in Germany: follow the event leading up to the launch of Sentinel-2B. Streaming begins at 00:30 GMT (01:30 CET) on 7 March

Follow the Sentinel-2B launch live from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana on 7 March. Streaming begins at 01:30 GMT (02:30 CET), with liftoff scheduled at 01:49 GMT (02:49 CET)

Our week through the lens: 27 February – 3 March 2017

We don’t know what it is, but thanks to these maps, we know where it is.

An unplanned maneuver helped save MAVEN from certain death.

Earth observation image of the week: a Sentinel-2A false-colour image of Botswana’s Central District, also featured on the Earth from Space video programme

Based on positive feedback received last year, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California, is again using an online ticketing system for the public to sign up to attend this year’s “Explore JPL.”

Based on positive feedback received last year, JPL is again using online ticketing for the public to sign up to attend this year’s “Explore JPL.”

NASA’s MAVEN spacecraft performed a previously unscheduled maneuver this week to avoid a collision in the near future with Mars’ moon Phobos.

Based on positive feedback received last year, JPL is again using online ticketing for the public to sign up to attend this year’s “Explore JPL.”

With liftoff just few days away, the next Sentinel satellite for the Copernicus environmental monitoring programme is positioned in the launch tower at Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.

With liftoff just few days away, the next Sentinel satellite for the Copernicus environmental monitoring programme is positioned in the launch tower at Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.

Join us Friday, 3 March, at 10:00 CET for the ‘Earth from Space’ video programme. This week features a Sentinel-2 image over Botswana

Some of these asteroids are not like the others.

This book takes a look inside some of NASA’s most iconic missions and the people that make them tick.

ESA’s Mars Express has captured images of one of the largest outflow channel networks on the Red Planet.

ESA’s Mars Express has captured images of one of the largest outflow channel networks on the Red Planet.

For the first time, scientists have measured rapidly varying temperatures in hot gas emanating from around a black hole.

For the first time, scientists have measured rapidly varying temperatures in hot gas emanating from around a black hole.

ESA and NASA space telescopes have made the most detailed observation of an ultra-fast wind flowing from the vicinity of a black hole at nearly a quarter of the speed of light.

ESA and NASA space telescopes have made the most detailed observation of an ultra-fast wind flowing from the vicinity of a black hole at nearly a quarter of the speed of light.

IRAS 13224−3809 has a relatively small supermassive black hole that’s powering outflows reminiscent of its massive quasar cousins.

Mimas, the Death Star moon, just “lost” its ocean, according to new research.

There’s a new record holder for brightest pulsar ever found — and astronomers are still trying to figure out how it can shine so brightly.

There’s a new record holder for brightest pulsar ever found — and astronomers are still trying to figure out how it can shine so brightly.

Areas of California’s San Joaquin Valley continue to sink in response to the state’s drought, finds a new update to a 2015 JPL report commissioned by the state of California.

Areas of California’s San Joaquin Valley continue to sink in response to the state’s drought, finds a new update to a 2015 JPL report commissioned by the state of California.

Developers of an app that combines the increasing availability of satellite images with social networking took home the top prize at this year’s Space App Camp in Barcelona.

Developers of an app that combines the increasing availability of satellite images with social networking took home the top prize at this year’s Space App Camp in Barcelona.

Human spaceflight image of the week: Orion’s propulsion system ready for ‘hot firing’

Human spaceflight image of the week: Orion’s propulsion system ready for ‘hot firing’

Two very loaded tourists will make the trip … as long as the technology is there.

On Mars, wind rules. Wind has been shaping the Red Planet’s landscapes for billions of years and continues to do so today.

In a nail-biting final round, the school’s team took first place and will move on to the national competition.

In a nail-biting final round, the school’s team took first place and will move on to the national competition.

On Mars, wind rules. Wind has been shaping the Red Planet’s landscapes for billions of years and continues to do so today.

Next week, the ExoMars orbiter will devote two days to making important calibration measurements at the Red Planet, which are needed for the science phase of the mission that will begin next year.

Next week, the ExoMars orbiter will devote two days to making important calibration measurements at the Red Planet, which are needed for the science phase of the mission that will begin next year.

The second Sentinel-2 satellite, Sentinel-2B, is set for liftoff on 7 March. Discover more about the mission and ‘colour vision’ for Copernicus

The second Sentinel-2 satellite, Sentinel-2B, is set for liftoff on 7 March. Discover more about the mission and ‘colour vision’ for Copernicus

The white dwarf / brown dwarf pair show evidence of a rocky planet hiding somewhere in their midst.

Slooh gives everyone around the world a chance to watch the southern annular eclipse.

Space Science Image of the Week: Hubble follows the evolution of an expanding supernova remnant over three decades

Space Science Image of the Week: Hubble follows the evolution of an expanding supernova remnant over three decades

Our week through the lens: 20-24 February 2017

Our week through the lens: 20-24 February 2017

Astronomers commemorate one of the brightest supernovae in 400 years with new images and models of this stellar remnant.

Earth observation image of the week: a Sentinel-1 radar image of water reservoirs in California, also featured on the Earth from Space video programme

Europe’s Vega small launcher is set to demonstrate its extended capability to deploy multiple light satellites using its new versatile Small Satellites Mission Service (SSMS) dispenser, in the second half of 2018.

Europe’s Vega small launcher is set to demonstrate its extended capability to deploy multiple light satellites using its new versatile Small Satellites Mission Service (SSMS) dispenser, in the second half of 2018.

Imaging technology developed at JPL is now used in dental X-rays.

Imaging technology developed at JPL is now used in dental X-rays.

A novel airborne experiment over the flat agricultural landscape of the Netherlands recently simulated, for the first time, images that could be taken by radar satellites orbiting in tandem.

A novel airborne experiment over the flat agricultural landscape of the Netherlands recently simulated, for the first time, images that could be taken by radar satellites orbiting in tandem.

MinutePhysics gives you the best short, hands-on guide to last year’s biggest discovery.

Even without an obvious power source, this huge nebula is helping astronomers trace the invisible matter that spans our universe.

Join us Friday, 24 February, at 10:00 CET for the ‘Earth from Space’ video programme. This week features a radar image of water reservoirs in California

NASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope has revealed the first known system of seven Earth-size planets around a single star.

NASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope has revealed the first known system of seven Earth-size planets around a single star.

… and they might all be habitable.

Now it’s time for some preliminary design work

Technology image of the week: Europe’s latest weather satellite lowered into a giant vacuum chamber for space testing

While rain and snow in atmospheric river storms can be drought busters, they bring a well-known flood risk. A new NASA study shows they also bring high wind damage worldwide.

While rain and snow in atmospheric river storms can be drought busters, they bring a well-known flood risk. A new NASA study shows they also bring high wind damage worldwide.

A mission to examine the habitability of Jupiter’s ocean-bearing moon Europa is taking one step closer to the launchpad, with the recent completion of a major NASA review.

A mission to examine the habitability of Jupiter’s ocean-bearing moon Europa is taking one step closer to the launchpad, with the recent completion of a major NASA review.

Jacqueline McGlade from the UN Environment Programme and Josef Aschbacher from ESA join the Earth from Space video programme to discuss satellite observations for UNEP’s Global Environment Outlook

Human spaceflight image of the week: The Orion spacecraft propulsion system ready for testing

Just how brightly can a neutron star shine?

Your guide to realizing solar system scale.

Alan Stern, principal investigator of the New Horizons mission, is ready to make Pluto a planet again … along with Ganymede and hundreds of other objects.

ESA’s XMM-Newton has found a pulsar – the spinning remains of a once-massive star – that is a thousand times brighter than previously thought possible.

ESA’s XMM-Newton has found a pulsar – the spinning remains of a once-massive star – that is a thousand times brighter than previously thought possible.

NASA will hold a news conference at 10 a.m. PST (1 p.m. EST) Wednesday, Feb. 22, to present new findings on planets that orbit stars other than our sun, known as exoplanets.

NASA will hold a news conference at 10 a.m. PST (1 p.m. EST) Wednesday, Feb. 22, to present new findings on planets that orbit stars other than our sun, known as exoplanets.

Space Science Image of the Week: Herschel reveals stars growing along the filaments of a giant cloud of gas and dust

NASA’s Juno mission to Jupiter, which has been in orbit around the gas giant since July 4, 2016, will remain in its current 53-day orbit for the remainder of the mission.

NASA’s Juno mission to Jupiter, which has been in orbit around the gas giant since July 4, 2016, will remain in its current 53-day orbit for the remainder of the mission.

Tomorrow, a Space-X Dragon cargo ferry will be launched to the International Space Station packed with supplies, experiments, tools and food for the six astronauts living and working high above Earth. In the unpressurised cargo hold is a n…

Tomorrow, a Space-X Dragon cargo ferry will be launched to the International Space Station packed with supplies, experiments, tools and food for the six astronauts living and working high above Earth. In the unpressurised cargo hold is a n…

Our week through the lens: 13-17 February 2017

We’ve seen indirect evidence for decades. Now it’s time for the Event Horizon Telescope to stare one in the eyes.

The craft was originally supposed to insert into a perilous path skimming near the planet in a polar orbit.

Researchers have completed the first flights of a NASA-led field campaign that is targeting one of the biggest gaps in scientists’ understanding of Earth’s water resources: snow.

The number of instruments on the International Space Station dedicated to observing Earth to increase our understanding of our home planet continues to grow.

How a puzzling sensor reading transformed NASA’s Cassini Saturn mission and created a new target in the search for habitable worlds beyond Earth.

NASA’s Dawn mission has found evidence for organic material on Ceres, a dwarf planet and the largest body in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.