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 topicThe animation shows the Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer (IASI) scanning mirror directing emitted infrared radiation from one swath into the uncovered interferometer. One swath covers 30 scan positions towards the Earth and two calibration views. One calibration view is into deep space and the other is via an internal blackbody. Each scan starts on the left with respect to the flight direction of the satellite. The animation sequence concludes with the interferometer housed in the MetOp satellite showing the incident radiation being directed through the long split opening to make observations through the atmosphere, the calibration process then quickly takes place.