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 topicA trio of images of the south region of Portugal - Monchique, Algarve - acquired by Envisat's Medium Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MERIS) during Auugust 2003's forest fires. The first image was acquired 8 August, before the fires started, the second was acquired 14 August during the midst of the blazes, and the last was acquired 20 August. Burnt areas appear as very dark patches.