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 topicThe Panamerican Highway cuts straight through the mysterious figures and geometric shapes of the Nasca Lines near Nasca in southern Peru. The highway was built in 1937, before that section of the Lines had been discovered. The Lines are too large to be appreciated from the ground, but rather can only be seen from the air, although they were drawn in the sand before 700A.D. by the Nasca Indians, long before airplanes and hot-air balloons existed.