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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An image of the waters around Spain's Balearic Islands in the western Mediterranean Sea showing differences in surface water temperatures captured by Envisat's Advanced Along Track Scanning Radiometer (AATSR). The most important feature of the AATSR instrument is its capability to measure the world’s ocean temperatures, a key parameter to monitor and understand planetary climate changes. AATSR, with its visible and infrared channels, is a key instrument onboard Envisat that helps climate researchers better understand the role of oceans in our biosphere. As this image demonstrates, the instrument also has the capability to detect phytoplankton, tiny algae living in the first tens of meter below the water’s surface.