Gallery: Striking Photos Go Deep Inside the European Space Program

  • Image may contain Vehicle Transportation Aircraft Helicopter and Space Station
    01

    028

    Columbus Training Simulator, ESA-The European Astronaut Centre (Cologne, Germany)
  • Image may contain Toy Human Person and Robot
    02

    Soeyuz 1st Back (+ colour) K

    Pressurised Sokol suit by Soyuz training module, Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre (Star City, Russia)
  • Image may contain Gate Electronics Server Hardware Computer and Wiring
    03

    001 F4

    Large Space Simulator Sun Basement, ESTEC/ESA (Noordwijk, The Netherlands)
  • Image may contain Clothing Apparel Helmet Hardhat and Crash Helmet
    04

    Helmet Side G

    Helmet of a SCAPE suit, CSG-Europe's Spaceport (Kourou, French Guiana)
  • Image may contain Human and Person
    05

    023r copy6

    The Automated Transfer Vehicle’s (ATV) launch campaign at Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, CSG, Europe’s Spaceport (Korou, French Guiana)
  • Image may contain Banister Handrail and Building
    06

    005b F (Flattened)

    Interior of Large Space Simulator Vaccum Chamber, ESTEC/ESA (Noordwijk, The Netherlands)
  • Image may contain Building Transportation Vehicle Train and Factory
    07

    024a F 2

    ATV mock-up and simulator, ESA - The European Astronaut Centre (Cologne, Germany)
  • Image may contain Clothing Apparel Furniture Footwear and Shoe
    08

    Suits Shelves 2M (Neutral Lighter shelves distortion correction) FF

    Astronaut dressing room, where the Sokol spacesuits are stored, Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre (Star City, Russia)
  • Image may contain Clothing and Apparel
    09

    Objects - Picasso Foam F4 + Light Soft Light

    Aluminium Honeycomb Assembly, M & C Laboratory, ESTEC/ESA (Noordwijk, The Netherlands)
  • Image may contain Flooring and Wall
    10

    022a F 2 (no R + Y + metal Lighter + L floor Final FF)

    S5 payload preparation complex – spacecraft fuelling bay (CSG, Europe’s Spaceport (Korou, French Guiana)
  • Image may contain Clothing Shoe Footwear and Apparel
    11

    Space Glove E

    Space glove, Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre (Star City, Russia)
  • Image may contain Art
    12

    010sc 4

    Acoustic testing facility, IABG (Ottobrunn, Munich)
  • Image may contain Sphere
    13

    Objects Mirror 2E

    Stainless steel reflector, M & C Laboratory, ESTEC/ESA, (Noordwijk, The Netherlands)
  • Image may contain Triangle
    14

    Nasa Moon Rock Great F

    Moon rock of volcanic origin found by Eugene Cernan of Apollo 17 in 1972, and on loan from NASA at Space Expo, Noordwijk (The Netherlands)
  • Image may contain Electronics Computer and Wiring
    15

    Bepi Wires Machine Front Portrait Top (Compacted)

    Cabling used during testing of ESA’s BepiColombo spacecraft, ESA-ESTEC, Noordwijk (The Netherlands)
  • Image may contain Trophy
    16

    Objects - MLI 10

    MLI (Multi Layer Insulation) - thermal insulation used on spacecraft, M & C Laboratory, ESTEC/ESA (Noordwijk, The Netherlands)
Read More
What’s Worse Than Romance Scams? Adoption Scams
This week in WIRED Book Club, we recap the final chapters of The Yahoo Boys.
Kate Knibbs
Beatbot’s New Pool Robot Cleans Itself (Mostly)
The AquaSense X brings self-cleaning technology to pool robots for the first time, but is it worth nearly twice the price of Beatbot’s flagship cleaner?
Christopher Null
Skylight’s Touchscreen Calendar Got my Whole Family on the Same Page
The Skylight has become the informational and organizational hub of my household. My touchscreen-native kids have also gained more agency over our family activities.
Jaclyn Greenberg
The Samsung Micro RGB R95H Is a Good, Not Great TV
There’s a new fleet of TVs using new mini and micro RBG display tech, and Samsung’s R95H model isn’t as impressive as it should be.
John Brandon
AI Found a Root Bug in Linux That Everyone Missed for 15 Years
Plus: The Pentagon is training amateurs to become part of its hacker army, a Flock license plate reader error led to cops surrounding a car reviewer, and more.
Dell Cameron
We Make Lovely Home-Cooked Meals for Ourselves. Why Not Do the Same for Our Dogs?
More dog owners have begun cooking for their canine companions in recent years. When my own dog fell ill, I became part of this growing group.
Alicia Kennedy
The Best Hiking Boots and Shoes for Any Adventure
From strenuous hikes and serious summits to weekend rambles in the park, these boots help you make the most of your time outdoors.
Chris Haslam
China’s Tianwen-2 Space Probe Has Rendezvoused With Earth’s Quasi-Moon
The probe sent back the first pictures of the asteroid Kamo’oalewa. Next step: landing on the surface and collecting samples to send back to Earth.
Ritsuko Kawai
El Niño Is Already Wreaking Havoc on Pacific Fisheries
As the climate phenomenon sends warm water surging across the eastern Pacific, some parts of the fishing industry are suffering—but other regions are seeing a windfall.
Joseph Winters
Exclusive: How Jay-Z Pulled Off a Surprise-Filled Show During New York’s Wildest Summer
Summer 2026 marks the 30th anniversary of Jay-Z’s debut Reasonable Doubt. To honor it, he put on a massive concert at Yankee Stadium—complete with performances from Beyoncé, Nas, and Alicia Keys.
Angela Watercutter
OpenAI’s Head of Safety Is Leaving the Company
Johannes Heidecke’s departure comes as OpenAI tries to further integrate its research and safety teams.
Maxwell Zeff
Microsoft Reports a Massive 25 Percent Jump in Emissions
Data centers are driving up the company’s use of electricity—and carbon pollution.
Molly Taft