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 topicIn July 1976, the lander from NASA's Viking 1 probe set down on the western slopes of Chryse Planitia. It soon began its programmed search for Martian micro-organisms and sent back incredible colour panoramas of its surroundings. Scientists learned that the Mars sky was pinkish in colour, not dark blue as they originally thought. The sky is pink due to sunlight reflecting off the reddish dust particles in the thin atmosphere. The lander set down among a field of red sand and boulders stretching out as far as its cameras could image.