CERN and ESA: A Decade of Innovation

Particle accelerators and spacecraft both operate in harsh radiation environments, extreme temperatures and in a high vacuum, with both having to process large amounts of data quickly. Much can be gained from cooperation between scientists and engineers in each field. 

Ten years ago, the European Space Agency (ESA) and CERN signed a bilateral cooperation agreement to share expertise and facilities. The goal was to expand the limits of human knowledge and keep Europe at the leading edge of progress, innovation and growth. 

A decade on, CERN and ESA have collaborated on projects ranging from cosmology and planetary exploration to Earth observation and human spaceflight, supporting new space-tech ventures and developing electronic systems, radiation-monitoring instruments and irradiation facilities. The collaboration continues today with plans to expand its scope going forwards. 

Read about seven of the most exciting collaborations that have taken place between CERN and ESA over the past decade in this comprehensive CERN Courier article: