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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During the course of its mission, Venus Express communicates with Earth by means of its two high gain antennas, located on two different sides of the spacecraft. Routinely, Venus Express will downlink scientific data for about eight hours once a day, when the spacecraft is around its furthest point from the planet (apocentre) along its 24-hour orbit.