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 topicThis BOUSSOLE buoy was designed and built by French company ACRI on behalf of ESA, specifically for the MERIS validation campaign. Only four and a half metres of the buoy can be seen – the other 20 metres stays underwater. A Kevlar cable anchors it to the sea floor. As a floating platform for scientific instruments such as radiometers, it played an important role in the MERIS validation campaign.