The ESA's executive council unanimously approved the two countries' membership applications last week, the agency said in a statement.

Greece and Luxembourg have been granted observer status to attend meetings of ESAs Council and all its subordinate bodies, "to enable them to familiarize themselves with the agencys procedures and working practices," the ESA said.

ESAs current 15 member states are Austria, Belgium, Britain, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.

SPACE.WIRE