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 Envisat MERIS Full Resolution mode image was acquired 11 December 2005 at 10:45 GMT, and shows the smoke cloud from the Buncefield oil depot fire. The depot is located on the edge of Hemel Hempstead, above the cloud around the middle of the image crop seen here (about where the tendril of white cloud touches the black smoke) with the conurbation of London to the south. The image has a resolution of 300 metres.