ESA Open Days 2023: Connecting space enthusiasts across Europe

ESTEC, ESRIN and ESAC: They have never been so close before. All three institutions are set to open their doors at the annual ESA Open Days. The first will be held at ESRIN on September 29, followed by ESTEC on October 7 and 8. Finally, ESAC will welcome space enthusiasts on October 21.

A full program of events is planned for the open days. These include: tours, children’s laboratories and meeting with science communicators, ESA astronauts and experts.

Visitors will have the opportunity to admire spacecraft and rocket models, explore ESA’s state-of-the-art laboratories and enjoy exciting experiences. The ESA Career Office and its experts will be available to provide information on science and research activities to inspire the next generation of scientists, engineers and astronauts.

See below for more information about the program for each institution.

ESA Open Day at ESRIN – 29 September 2023 (event fully booked)

The first open day will take place in Frascati, near Rome, in the framework of the European Researchers’ Night, with around 1 200 people expected to attend. The event will feature a presentation of the Discover ESA Live platform and activities based on ESA’s programs for scientific research and space exploration. Another attraction will be guided tours of the Earth Observation Multimedia Center (Φ-Experience), the Heritage Missions Walkthrough exhibition area and the permanent exhibition (Memaraphilia Wall) covering ESA’s activities.

For more information about the Open Day program at ESRIN, see the Italian page of the ESA portal (Italian only).

ESA Open Day at ESTEC – 7 and 8 October 2023 (event fully booked)

On October 7th and 8th, it is ESTEC’s turn, ahead of ESRIN’s open day. Approximately 12 000 people are expected to attend the event, to explore the state-of-the-art facilities, meet ESA astronauts and discover the wide range of job opportunities ESA offers to students and young professionals. This year, visitors will have a rare opportunity to see ESA’s next deep space mission before launch: currently beginning tests at the ESTEC test center, the planetary defense Hera mission will begin studying the distant Dimorphos asteroid next year.

For more information about the Open Day program at ESTEC, check this link.

ESA Open Day at ESAC – 21 October 2023

Open Day at ESAC will include exhibitions of ESA’s famous scientific work (Joos, Baby-Colombo, Gaia, James Webb and Euclid, to name a few). There will be activities for children and discoveries about icy moons and space debris. Thanks to virtual reality, visitors will have the opportunity to step into the future and put themselves in the shoes of an astronaut exploring the universe. There will be opportunities to observe the Sun through ESAC’s telescope and visit the control room to learn how scientists and engineers operate space missions.

More information about the open day program at ESAC will follow. Registration for the ESAC Open Day will be available soon. For more information, contact: [email protected].