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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ESRO-1B integration with its Scout launcher at the Western Test Range, California. The first satellites of the European Space Research Organisation (ESRO, a predecessor of ESA) concentrated on solar and cosmic radiation and its interaction with the Earth. ESRO-2 looked at solar X-rays, cosmic radiation and Earth's radiation belts, while ESRO-1A simultaneously examined how the auroral zones responded to geomagnetic and solar activity. Direct measurements were made as these high-energy charged particles plunged from the outer magnetosphere into the atmosphere. ESRO-1B was launched into a lower, circular orbit - meaning that reentry was inevitable after a few weeks - to provide complementary measurements. ESRO-1A was launched 3 October 1968 and reentered 26 June 1970; ESRO-1B was launched 1 October 1969 and reentered 23 November 1969. [Image Date: 1969/09] [69.10.786-002]