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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The Ariane 503 launch carrying the Atmospheric Reentry Demonstrator (ARD) from Kourou on 21 October 1998. ARD will be a major step towards developing a European return-to-Earth capability. The 2.8 tonne, 2.8-metre diameter unmanned Apollo-shaped capsule was designed to fit within Ariane 5's dual-launch performance. Some 200 sensors monitored aerodynamic, aerothermodynamic, thermal protection and reentry blackout conditions. Ariane 5 injected ARD into a suborbital trajectory peaking at 830 km altitude for splashdown and recovery in the Pacific Ocean after a 100-minute flight.