This is an official channel of the European Space Agency, where you can find a variety of podcast series bringing you closer to the people, missions and discoveries that are expanding our understanding of the Universe.
The depths of space, Euclid, LISA, and the mysterious effects of gravity - Expedition Sound 4
Host Zsófi Szalavári interviews Valeria Pettorino, Euclid Project Scientist, and Lorenzo Speri, LISA Research Fellow, exploring gravity's cosmic effects and sonification's role in understanding space.
13 Aug 2026
Our galaxy and faraway worlds, Gaia, Plato, and hearing stars wobble - Expedition Sound 3
Zsófi Szalavári interviews PhD student Sarah Kane and Project Scientist Maximilian Günther about exploring our galaxy and exoplanets by listening to starquakes.
30 Jul 2026
The Solar System, BepiColombo, and flying towards Mercury - Expedition Sound 2
Host Zsófi Szalavári interviews BepiColombo Project Scientist Geraint Jones and undergraduate researcher Ben Ruggles about exploring Mercury's mysteries through spacecraft data sonification.
16 Jul 2026
Our Sun, Solar Orbiter, and listening to solar fireworks - Expedition Sound 1
Host Zsófi Szalavári interviews Miho Janvier and Nic Bonne, exploring our Sun's mysteries and how sound makes astronomy accessible.
25 Nov 2021
ESA‘s riskiest flyby – Solar Orbiter faces Earth debris
Flight dynamics expert Julia Schwartz and space debris specialist Klaus Merz discuss Solar Orbiter's perilous upcoming Earth flyby through hazardous debris fields in this interview.
16 Jul 2021
Rescuing Integral: No thrusters, no problem
Operations Manager Richard Southworth explains how the Integral spacecraft continues to explore the gamma ray Universe despite thruster failure, revealing ingenious new control methods.
19 May 2021
Your chance to name the next space weather mission
Jussi Luntama, ESA's Head of Space Weather, discusses the critical new mission to detect solar storms and invites listeners to help name it.
28 Apr 2021
A fictional asteroid impact
Detlef Koschny, ESA's Head of Planetary Defence, discusses a fictional asteroid impact scenario and its importance for global preparedness in this interview.
22 Apr 2021
André Kuipers on sheltering from oncoming space debris
ESA astronaut André Kuipers shares his harrowing experience sheltering from space debris on the International Space Station, offering a unique perspective on space safety.
14 Apr 2021
ESA & UNOOSA talk trash: Directors Josef Aschbacher and Simonetta di Pippo in conversation
European Space Agency Director General Josef Aschbacher and UN Office for Outer Space Affairs Director Simonetta di Pippo discuss global efforts to combat space debris in this interview.
13 Apr 2021
ESA & UNOOSA on space debris: sustainability over the long term
Space may seem vast, but the orbits around Earth in which satellites reside are a limited natural resource. Since the beginning of the space age, millions of debris fragments have been created which now threaten any spacecraft that crosses their path.
So what can we do to protect these vulnerable regions for future generations? Find out in episode nine of the ESA-UNOOSA space debris series, with Stijn Lemmens and Tanya Keusen.
While you listen, check out the corresponding ESA-UN infographic that illustrates this topic: www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Imag…ainability_of_space
31 Mar 2021
ESA & UNOOSA on: space debris and human spaceflight
Humans in space have a lot to contend with, and for those orbiting in low-Earth orbit, space debris is a real concern.
So what's the risk to astronauts on-board the International Space Station? How safe are they when they perform a space walk, and what are the "clanking" sounds they report hearing? Find out in episode 8 of the ESA-UNOOSA space debris podcast with Vitali Braun and Ottavia Pesce.
While you listen, check out the corresponding infographic that illustrates this topic: www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Imag…d_human_spaceflight
**Links referred to in the podcast:
The robotic arm on the International Space Station checks the Columbus module for signs of impact: www.esa.int/Safety_Security/Hun…_science_laboratory
The 7 mm-diameter impact chip in the Cupola of the ISS, gouged out by a tiny piece of space debris: www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Imag…p#.YGQpHyPoJgY.link
31 Mar 2021
ESA & UNOOSA on: the impact of debris
Debris in orbit varies from millions of millimetre-sized particles to thousands of much larger objects like defunct satellites and rocket parts. As such the damage debris can cause varies from a gradual degradation of satellite parts over time to immediate and total destruction.
Find out about the damage debris can do - including leading to the "Kessler syndrome" - in episode 7 of the ESA-UN space debris podcast with Beatriz Jilete and Markus Woltran.
While you listen, check out the corresponding ESA-UN infographic that illustrates this topic: www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Imag…act_of_space_debris
31 Mar 2021
ESA & UNOOSA on space debris: Where today's debris came from
The millions of fragments of debris in orbit today are the direct result of 'fragmentation events' in the past. But how do we know what caused the 550 known, debris-creating events to date? And what can we learn from them?
In episode 6 of the ESA-UNOOSA space debris series, Vitali Braun and Jorge del Rio Vera discuss the various past events that have lead to today's debris environment, and what we can expect in the future.
While you listen, check out the corresponding infographic that illustrates this topic: www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Imag…ace_debris_creation.
15 Mar 2021
ESA-UNOOSA on space debris: The role of reentries
What goes up, nearly always comes back down. Roughly 100 satellites and rocket bodies reentered Earth's atmosphere every year in the last decade. It might sound scary, but atmospheric reentries are nothing to be worried about - in fact they are a fundamental tool in minimising the creation of space debris and ensuring a sustainable future in space.
In this podcast, episode 5 in the ESA-UN space debris series, Stijn Lemmens and Jorge del Rio Vera it discuss the risk from reentries and why they are so important.
While you listen, check out the corresponding ESA-UN infographic that illustrates this topic: www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Imag…e_role_of_reentries.
3 Mar 2021
ESA-UNOOSA on space debris: We're launching more than ever
Since the beginning of the space age, with the launch of Sputnik in 1958, we have launched thousands of rockets carrying more than ten thousand satellites into space.
In recent years, this number has dramatically increased, as well as the variety of missions being flown. In episode #4 of the ESA-UNOOSA space debris series, Ian Freeman and Francesca Letizia discuss what these changes mean for the future of spaceflight and the creation of space debris. While you listen, check out the corresponding infographic that illustrates this topic: https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2021/03/We_re_launching_more_than_ever#.YD9ND2zPUaw.link
26 Feb 2021
ESA-UNOOSA on space debris: The cost of avoiding collision
Space might seem an empty, vast expanse, but satellites in Earth's orbit face the constant risk of collision - with other satellites and rockets, dead or alive, or with fragments of their debris.
It is now routine for operators of spacecraft in busy highways to divert their mission out of harms way. In fact at ESA, each mission flown performs on average two 'collision avoidance manoeuvres' per year.
In this podcast, episode 3 in the ESA-UN space debris series, Benjamin Bastida Virgili and Hazuki Mori discuss the cost of these manoeuvres and what can be done.
While you listen, check out the corresponding ESA-UN infographic that illustrates this topic.
26 Feb 2021
ESA-UNOOSA on space debris: Falling to Earth takes a long time
Our planet's atmosphere gradually slows down satellites in orbit and brings them back down to Earth. However, depending on their altitude, this process can take an extremely long time. Had the dinosaurs launched a satellite into the furthest geostationary orbit, it would still be up there today. So, what do we do with spacecraft once they reach the end of their lives?
In episode 2 in our ESA-UN space debris series, Francesca Letizia and Xing-Yi Ang discuss the problem of slowly returning satellites, and what needs to be done to responsibly dispose of them at the end of their lives.
While you listen, check out the corresponding ESA-UN infographic that illustrates this topic.
26 Feb 2021
ESA-UNOOSA on: Satellites vs space debris
Satellites in orbit share near-Earth space with millions of fast-moving and dangerous debris objects. Tim Flohrer, Head of ESA's Space Debris Office, and Nathalie Ricard, Scientific Officer at the UN Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA), discuss the scale of the debris problem, asking what are our satellites are up against?
While you listen, check out the corresponding ESA-UN infographic that illustrates this topic.
Who has been a guest on ESA Explores Space Operations
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Valeria Pettorino
Lorenzo Speri
Sarah Kane
Maximilian Günther
Geraint Jones
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Spotify
4.9 / 5
7 ratings
Contact ESA Explores Space Operations
Guest appearances
Books guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Pod Engine is an independent podcast discovery and analytics service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by this podcast. Artwork and show content belong to their owners. Full legal notice.
Explore this show Podcast research with Pod Engine
