The scientific community announces with great sadness the passing away of Mr. Dumitru Hașegan, Phd. Eng., President of the Institute of Space Science (ISS) during 1990–2011, member of the Scientific Council of the Romanian Space Agency (ROSA), member of the International Academy of Astronautics, multiple delegate to the European Space Agency and to the United Nations, one of leaders of Romania's participation in the INTERCOSMOS Programme, utmost professional and pioneer in Romanian research.
Monitoring the cryosphere is essential to fully assess, predict and adapt to climate variability and change. Given the importance of this fragile component of the Earth system, the European Space Agency (ESA), along with Airbus Defence and Space and Thales Alenia Space, have signed a contract to develop the Copernicus Polar Ice and Snow Topography Altimeter mission, known as CRISTAL.
The European Space Agency (ESA) is taking the first steps towards the in-flight demonstration of a prototype reusable rocket first stage called Themis from 2023.
On 17 December 2020, the ESA Council appointed Dr Josef Aschbacher as the next Director General of ESA, for a period of four years. He will succeed Prof. Jan Wörner, whose term of office ends on 30 June 2021.