Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Traditional computing architectures can be improved to process the growing volume of data produced by Earth observation (EO) more efficiently and promptly. To address this challenge and prepare Europe for the future of space computing, ESA launched the SysNova challenge ‘Innovative mission concepts enabled by disruptive computing paradigms’. This video includes highlights from the webinar in which four teams presented projects selected for a six-month mission concept study.
Credits: European Space Agency (ESA)
Access the video on the ESA video library: https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Videos/2026/08/SysNova_campaign_kick-off_webinar_highlights
Our main YouTube channel: youtube.com/@EuropeanSpaceAgency
We are Europe's gateway to space. Our mission is to shape the development of Europe's space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world. Check out https://www.esa.int/ to get up to speed on everything space related.
Copyright information about our videos is available here: https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Terms_and_Conditions
Traditional computing architectures can be improved to process the growing volume of data produced by Earth observation (EO) more efficiently and promptly. To address this challenge and prepare Europe for the future of space computing, ESA launched the SysNova challenge ‘Innovative mission concepts enabled by disruptive computing paradigms’. This video includes highlights from the webinar in which four teams presented projects selected for a six-month mission concept study.
Credits: European Space Agency (ESA)
Access the video on the ESA video library: https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Videos/2026/08/SysNova_campaign_kick-off_webinar_highlights
Our main YouTube channel: youtube.com/@EuropeanSpaceAgency
We are Europe's gateway to space. Our mission is to shape the development of Europe's space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world. Check out https://www.esa.int/ to get up to speed on everything space related.
Copyright information about our videos is available here: https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Terms_and_Conditions









![Fluid Science Laboratory (FSL): SMD PASTA experiment
This timelapse was published by ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot on her social media with the following caption:
[🇫🇷 version FR 👇] Another experiment, and another timelapse! This time, I’m working with the Fluid Science Laboratory (FSL), one of the science facilities inside ESA’s Columbus module.
The experiment is called PASTA-3 and investigates the formation and evolution of emulsions over time when there is no gravity to interfere. Emulsions are mixtures of two or more liquids that do not usually mix, such as oil and water.
During this session, I installed 3 experiment containers 🧪 with new samples inside the FSL. Each PASTA sample has a different concentration of surfactant (an agent that helps liquids mix) and Xanthan Gum in addition to a water and oil mixture.
This experiment helps scientists better understand and model the fundamental physics of emulsions. That knowledge has numerous applications on Earth, including:
improving food quality and shelf life (milk 🥛, dough, mayonnaise, candy…),
enhancing the stability and effectiveness of medicines (including vaccines 💉) and cosmetics,
optimising processes in industrial and advanced manufacturing sectors (oil 🛢️, chemicals …).
PASTA-3 is one of the 36 European experiments I get to work on during my mission! Go science!
(PASTA is short for PArticle STAbilised emulsions experiment.)
Nouvelle expérience, et nouveau timelapse ! Cette fois-ci, cela se passe dans le Fluid Science Laboratory (FSL), l’une des installations scientifiques situées à l’intérieur du module Columbus de l’ESA.
L’expérience s’appelle PASTA 3 : elle étudie la formation et l’évolution des émulsions au fil du temps en l’absence de gravité. Une émulsion, c’est un mélange de deux ou plusieurs liquides qui ne se mélangent pas facilement, comme l’huile et l’eau.
Lors de cette session, j’ai installé trois lots de nouveaux échantillons 🧪 dans le FSL. Chaque échantillon PASTA présente une concentration différente de tensioactif (un agent qui aide les liquides à se mélanger) et de gomme xanthane, en plus d’un mélange d’eau et d’huile.
Cette expérience aide les scientifiques à mieux comprendre et modéliser la physique fondamentale des émulsions avec à la clé de nombreuses applications sur Terre, comme par exemple:
l’amélioration de la qualité des aliments et de leur durée de conservation (lait 🥛, pâte, mayonnaise, confiseries…),
le renforcement de la stabilité et de l’efficacité des médicaments (y compris les vaccins 💉) et des cosmétiques,
l’optimisation des procédés industriels et de fabrication avancée (pétrole 🛢️, chimie…).
PASTA 3 est l’une des 36 expériences européennes sur lesquelles j’ai la chance de travailler durant ma mission ! Vive la science !
(PASTA est l’abréviation de PArticle STAbilised emulsions experiment.)
Credits: ESA/NASA
Access the video on the ESA video library: https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Videos/2026/04/Fluid_Science_Laboratory_FSL_SMD_PASTA_experiment
Our main YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@EuropeanSpaceAgency
We are Europes gateway to space. Our mission is to shape the development of Europes space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world. Check out https://www.esa.int/ to get up to speed on everything space related.
Copyright information about our videos is available here: https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Terms_and_Conditions Fluid Science Laboratory (FSL): SMD PASTA experiment](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/oWBYQlAVtW4/mqdefault.jpg)
