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
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This image, taken by the High Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC) on board ESA’s Mars Express spacecraft, shows a part of the southern highlands of Mars, called Promethei Terra.
It was taken during orbit 368 on 5 May 2004 with a ground resolution of approximately 14 metres per pixel. The displayed region is centred around longitude 118° East and latitude 42° South.
It shows a close-up view of the rim of the southern crater. The smooth surface is caused by a layer of dust or volcanic ash that is up to several tens of metres thick. This layer has covered all landforms, and even young impact craters have lost their contours due to in-fill and collapse of their fragile crater walls.