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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Air traffic control, shipping and road transport, farming, mapping, rescue operations, crisis management and law enforcement services have all been revolutionised by accurate and reliable positioning systems.
The Galileo programme is a joint initiative of the European Commission and ESA to provide Europe with its own independent global civil satellite navigation system, compatible and interoperable with the existing American GPS and Russian GLONASS military-controlled systems. EGNOS, the European
Geostationary Navigation Overlay System, already provides improvements to European users of GPS, by monitoring them around the clock and computing correction and integrity data.
Looking beyond the transport sector, where it will enhance safety, efficiency and comfort, Galileo’s advanced technological features and its commercially oriented services will make it a valuable tool for many more economic sectors.
Two demonstration missions, GIOVE-A and B, have already been launched. The first four operational Galileo satellites will perform the In-Orbit Validation and Qualification of the Galileo design. In its full configuration, the Galileo system will be made up of a constellation of 30 satellites circling Earth at an altitude of 23,000 km and operated by a network of ground stations
around the globe.