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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ESA's Infrared Space Observatory (ISO) was launched on 19 November 1995 as the world's first spaceborne infrared observatory. It provided an entirely fresh perspective on the Universe before it was switched off on 16 May 1998 - well beyond the planned 18-month life. ISO's highly elliptical orbit allowed the spacecraft to return data in real-time (there was no onboard recorder) to its main ground station at Villafranca, Spain for most of the 24h period. Although the supply of liquid helium, used to cool the telescope and instruments, ran out on 8 April 1998, the last scientific observation was not made until 10 May 1998. [Image Date: 1991/04] [91.04.001-021]