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-4 in the integration hall at ESTEC. This European Space Research Organisation satellite was launched on 22 November 1972 from the Western Test Range, California by a NASA Scout, and continued returning data until reentry on 15 April 1974. It carried five experiments concentrating on the Earth's ionosphere, atmosphere, radiation belts and the penetration of solar particle radiation into the magnetosphere. Achievements included unique high-quality measurements of the atmosphere's constituents between 240 km and 320 km altitude. This small satellite significantly advanced our basic understanding of the relationships between solar radiation and the Earth's atmosphere and magnetic environment. [Image Date: 1972/03] [72.03.391-011]