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 topicA scene of total devastation after peat swamp fires in East Kilamantan, Borneo. In the fires of 2002 some 20 to 30 cm of peat was burnt off, releasing millions of extra tonnes of carbon into the atmosphere. It is a characteristic of such fires that almost all the trees get killed but most of the other above ground biomass remains unburnt.