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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The bright spot on the left-hand side of this picture is
the back side of Beagle 2, slowly drifting away from Mars
Express. This image, taken at 9:33 CET, 19 Dec 2003 (about 1min:03secs after separation), shows
the lander when it was about 20 metres away from the Mars Express orbiter, on its way to Mars.