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 topicTechicians carefully manoeuvre the fly-by spacecraft to its stacked position over the impactor spacecraft. The spacecraft pair were shipped in this 'stacked' configuration from Ball Aerospace to Cape Canaveral, Florida, in October 2004. This was the second and final stack procedure that the spacecraft had to undergo before launch.