The European Space Agency's (ESA) Gaia spacecraft has concluded its mission after its team on Earth sent the final commands, including those to deactivate its communication systems and central computer. Despite the spacecraft going silent, its extensive data archive will continue to influence astronomical research for years to come.
Gaia's data is invaluable for galactic archaeology, stellar evolution, and exoplanet studies. Star trackers on ESA's Euclid spacecraft utilize Gaia data for precise orientation, and the upcoming Plato mission will explore exoplanets identified by Gaia.
During its final weeks, the Gaia control team conducted technology tests on the spacecraft's micro propulsion system to assess its performance after a decade in space. These tests will inform the development of propulsion systems for future ESA missions like LISA.