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 22 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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This Envisat image, acquired on 1 August 2009, captures a large plume of smoke rising from two forest fires that burned out of control earlier this week on the southern tip of the Spanish Canary Island of La Palma (top left). Seven larger islands and a few smaller ones make up the Canary Island archipelago, located some 95 km from the northwest coast of Africa (bottom right) in the Atlantic Ocean. The larger islands are (visible left to right): La Palma, El Hierro, La Gomera, Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura and Lanzarote.