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 Jules Verne videometre, called VDM, is designed and manufactured by Sodern, a subsidiary of EADS in Limeil-Brévannes, a Paris suburb. It has been able, during tests, to analyse images of its emitted laser beam reflected by retroreflectors identical to the ones which will be installed on the Russian Service Module. With a budget of about 7.6 millon Euros covering a two year period, Sodern has delivered pre-qualification models and the first set of flight-rated videometres.