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 topicFlameproof textiles used on the Ariane launchers, produced by the French company Société Ariégeoise de Bonneterie, have been used to develop materials to fight vandalism on road and rail transport across Europe. The company has modified the knitting technique to create a flexible fabric of steel wire that is extremely difficult to cut and used to protect the outside surface of lorries and haulage containers.