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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Europe has decided to implement a satellite-based navigation system in a two-step approach. The first step will lead to a European navigation system (EGNOS) which will augment the two existing navigation satellite constellations (GPS and Glonass). EGNOS is already contracted to industry and is due to start operations in 2003. The second step (Galileo) will enable Europe to achieve autonomous capability in satellite navigation by 2008.