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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A map of global atmospheric methane distribution produced by the University of Heidelberg's Institute of Environmental Physics. The map is based on atmospheric data acquired between August and September 2003 by Envisat's Scanning Imaging Absorption Spectrometer for Atmospheric Cartography (SCIAMACHY) instrument. It depicts the vertical column density of methane (CH4) measured in molecules per square centimetre. Note the concentration of methane over the Indian subcontinent due to rice cultivation in the Ganges valley.