The European Space Agency’s Gaia spacecraft, which has been mapping the Milky Way for 12 years, shut down its science operations on January 15 due to running low on propellant.

Despite ceasing data collection, Gaia’s legacy continues, with valuable data still to be released.

Gaia has studied nearly 2 billion stars, contributing to the most detailed 3D map of our local universe.

The upcoming Gaia Data Release 4 (GR4) is expected by mid-2026, with the final data release (GR5) anticipated in the 2030s, Space.com has reported.

After its data is fully downloaded, Gaia will be used for spacecraft control tests before moving to its final orbit in 2025.

Written by B.C. Begley