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
Go to topicAn unmanned spaceflight must be remote controlled from the ground like a manned satellite. The control center of the European Space Agency ESA is located in Darmstadt. The European environmental satellite Envisat will be guided from here. That begins with the launch and the deployment maneuver and continues with routine corrections of position for the life of the satellite. Even under extreme conditions like the annual Leonids storms the Darmstadt engineers must remain in control.