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.
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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 topicJust two weeks after launch the VIRTIS imaging spectrometer on ESA's Venus Express has been able to acquire its first remote-sensing data.
This image, taken on 23 November, as part of the checkout of the Venus Express instruments, shows Earth in the infrared (thermal) region at a wavelength of about 4μm as seen by VIRTIS-M.
The disk now appears almost 'fully illuminated' with no difference from day and night regions since only the thermal radiance from the planet is seen. The Antarctica region, being colder, is seen weaker in radiance (bottom).