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 topicLight from faint background galaxies is bent by the lensing effect created by the gravitation of the large cluster of galaxies, Abell 2218. The unprecedented high angular resolution and sensitivity of the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope makes detailed studies of the fine structure in the arcs possible as well as giving important cosmological clues.