The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe’s gateway to space. Its 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.
Find out more about space activities in our 23 Member States, and understand how ESA works together with their national agencies, institutions and organisations.
Exploring our Solar System and unlocking the secrets of the Universe
Go to topicProtecting life and infrastructure on Earth and in orbit
Go to topicUsing space to benefit citizens and meet future challenges on Earth
Go to topicMaking space accessible and developing the technologies for the future
Go to topicOzone hole over the south pole 9 November 2001. Scientists at KNMI (NL) in cooperation with ESA are tracking a mini ozone hole opening over the North Atlantic and heading for Europe. The KNMI scientists predict that the mini hole will see ozone levels fall to 60-70% of the seasonal average as it sweeps from Greenland to southern Scandinavia over the next few days. KNMI's unique GOME Fast Delivery Service, developed under the ESA Data User Programme, harnesses near real time processing of data from the GOME instrument aboard ERS-2. The scientists are able to monitor the loss of ozone in the atmosphere, and watch the mini hole as it moves and deepens hour by hour, in real time. In this world view the mini hole in the north, compared with the larger hole over the south pole, is clearly visible. Credit: KNMI/ESA