ESA’s October round-up spotlights Mars preparations, asteroid images and astronaut’s return

The European Space Agency’s October round-up highlights a month of mission milestones, from new images of asteroids to preparations for a Mars rover. The agency’s four-minute video also looks back at astronaut Sophie Adenot’s return to Earth after 237 days in space and public events aimed at bringing space science to wider audiences.

ESA says its Rosalind Franklin rover team trained in Spain’s desert as it prepares for the mission to Mars. The agency also reports that its Smile mission captured the full ring of northern lights around Earth, while Mars Express found new clues about a large cloud on Mars.

The video includes the first images captured by the Hera mission of the asteroids it will study in work intended to help protect Earth. ESA also highlights its Open Days, which drew thousands of visitors, and a partnership with Pokémon to introduce space science to new audiences.

The agency’s monthly video is a roundup of selected October activities, rather than a full account of ESA’s work.