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 topicThe AMIE camera on board ESA's SMART-1 acquired its first image of a crescent moon on 18 January 2004. On 29 January, between 2000 and 2119 UT, images of the first quarter Moon were taken through several filters.
The result is a small, but impressive, image revealing, clockwise from the top: Mare Serenitatis, Mare Tranquillitatis, Mare Fecunditatis and Mare Nectaris, with Mare Crisium also visible near the limb.
The result is very encouraging as the spacecraft is still over 300 000 kilometres from the Moon. The camera appears to have survived its journey through the high-radiation environment with no apparent reduction in performance. Taking images is also an excellent test of the pointing ability of the spacecraft.