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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Geos-1 being prepared for boom deployment tests in the Dynamic Test Chamber at ESTEC. Geos was designed for geostationary orbit to study the particles, fields and plasmas of the Earth's magnetosphere using seven instruments provided by ten European laboratories. Because of its unique orbit and the sophistication of its payload, Geos was selected as the reference spacecraft for the worldwide 'International Magnetospheric Study'. Unfortunately, Geos-1 was left in a low transfer orbit following launch on 20 April 1977 because of a problem with its US Delta launcher. As a result, the Qualification Model was launched as Geos-2 on 14 July 1978 with an identical payload and successfully reached the planned orbit. In spite of its orbit, Geos-1 made a significant contribution to IMS, and its mission formally ended on 23 June. Geos-2 was highly successful, creating a huge database for magnetospheric studies and plasma research in general. [Image Date: 1976] [76.11.800-011]