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 image was acquired by the satellite's onboard camera on 4 April, just hours after Sentinel-1A entered orbit on 3 April 2014. It shows the top side of one of two deployed solar array wings as well as part of the radar antenna.
The solar wings and radar antenna opened together in a specific sequence that took around 10 hours to complete. As one of most critical stages in the life of the mission, it was choreographed by engineers on the ground and took place exactly as planned.
The sequence also allowed power from the wings to be available as soon as possible so that the satellite was independent.