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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Captured at 14:09 GMT on 29 February 2016 just two weeks after launch, the first image from the Copernicus Sentinel-3A satellite shows the transition from day to night over Svalbard, Norway. As well as showing the snow-covered archipelago, the image also details Arctic sea ice and some cloud features. The image was taken by the satellite’s Ocean and Land Colour Instrument, which features 21 distinct bands, a resolution of 300 m and a swath width of 1270 km. The instrument’s new eyes on Earth will allow ocean ecosystems to be monitored, support vegetation, crop conditions and inland water monitoring. It will also provide estimates of atmospheric aerosol and clouds, all of which bring significant benefits to society through more informed decision-making. Sentinel-3A’s instrument package also includes a Sea and Land Surface Temperature Radiometer, a Synthetic Aperture Radar Altimeter and a Microwave Radiometer.