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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Ministers in charge of space activities within the 20 ESA Member States and Canada will meet in Luxembourg on 2 December to take key decisions, in particular on Europe's Launcher Programmes and the new Ariane 6 design should then be unveiled, a next generation launcher being required for an increasingly competitive market.
This video covers why it is important for Europe to have independent access to space and maintain its leadership in the world’s commercial satellite launch market.
If final approval on its development is given at the forthcoming Ministerial, Ariane 6 will launch from Kourou at the start of the next decade.
Both A-roll and B-roll contain soundbites from Gaele Winters, Director of Launchers, ESA .