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
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The SMOS MIRAS instrument during testing in 2007. Although the instrument's three arms are folded up here, some of the individual Licef antenna-receivers can be seen on the instrument hub. Each Licef measures radiation emitted from Earth at L-band. MIRAS carries a total of 69 of these small antennas positioned along the three armsand hub that together form a Y-shape. In orbit, these antennas mimic the size of a much larger single antenna that would normally be needed at this frequency to obtain the required ground coverage and resolution. SMOS provides data on soil moisture and ocean salinity for a better understanding of the water cycle.