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 topicThank you for liking
You have already liked this page, you can only like it once!
This Advanced Synthetic Aperture Radar (ASAR) image is centred over the Strait of Dover, separating England from France and the European continent, and connecting the English Channel and Atlantic Ocean with the North Sea. The strait of 34 km wide is one of the busiest maritime routes in the world. Numerous ships (bright points) are seen in the image crossing the English Channel.
Paris, the capital city of France, is shown as a large bright area in the bottom of the image. The Seine River flowing through the city and the Charles de Gaulle (north) and the Orly International (south) Airports are well evidenced. London, the capital city of Great Britain, is seen in the top part of the image with the Thames River flowing through it and the Heathrow Airport clearly seen in the west part of the city.
Technical Information:
Instrument: Advanced Synthetic Aperture Radar (ASAR)
Date of Acquisition: 22 November 2003
Orbit number: 09044
Orbit direction: Ascending
ASAR features: Wide Swath Mode (150 metre resolution)
ASAR polarisation: VV
Coordinates:
NE Lat/Long: N 54.87 / E 3.38
NW Lat/Long: N 54.09 / W 3.02
SW Lat/Long: N 46.95 / W 0.28
SE Lat/Long: N 47.69 / E 5.21