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 topicBecause radar instruments such as the ASAR on ESA's Envisat can see through clouds that obscure the view of optical satellite sensors, they can enable much more effective monitoring of rice growing areas. Radar instruments are also especially sensitive to the presence of water, and rice fields have to be flooded for their growing season. Improved rice monitoring is one of the subjects of the joint ESA-China Dragon Programme.