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 topicWernher von Braun was involved in the whole development process of modern large rockets.
Under his direction the gigantic Saturn V rocket was created in the Marshall Space Flight Center of NASA. Saturn V, which was used for the famous 1969 Apollo 11 mission and in 1973 carried the space laboratory Skylab into orbit, was the largest and most powerful rocket ever flown.