ESA exhibition ‘Memorabilia’

From the beginnings of ESA to the future

The new “Memorabilia” exhibition was opened in 2021 in Frascati, at ESA’s Earth Observation headquarters. The small exhibition area in an open foyer shows the development of space in Europe from its beginnings to the planned future.

History wall: interactive history

The interactive presentation runs through the room as a wall installation with a timeline. The exhibition wall combines digital content with haptic memorabilia from over 40 years of space history. Parts of satellites, historic magazines and film footage, and other exhibits collected by a team of ESA staff, modellers and technicians provide a unique insight into European space history.

Large interactive showcase presents satellite technology in a playful way

Our partner Ars Electronica Solutions has contributed several key elements to the exhibition, including a holographic representation of ESA satellites. The holographic effect is created by rotor blades equipped with LEDs. Garamantis created an especially large interactive display case with a turntable. It contains an original part of a satellite weighing over 100 kilos, surrounded by interactive screens. By swiping across the glass of the showcase, the entire satellite part rotates and can be explored from all sides.

Photos: Francesco Malavasi (ESA), Michael Mondria