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 topic‘Shape memory alloys’ (SMAs) are an extraordinary material. Just like an elastic band they can be stretched and deformed and will return to their original shape at a given pre-programmed temperature. ESA developed SMAs for use as lightweight temperature-controlled actuators in space. The Italian company Grado Zero Espace is now using SMAs in a shirt that ‘irons itself’ at body temperature. This shirt has been awarded the ‘Best Innovation of 2001’ award by Time Magazine. Another possible design is a shirt with sleeves programmed to shorten as the temperature becomes hotter.