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 topicInstallation of the solar array onto the satellite. After some preparatory activities regarding the thermal knives, the mechanical transport frame was fixed to the stack and brought by crane over to MetOp where it was mated to the satellite. Finally, the Solar Array Drive release was calibrated with the stack, and electrical measurements of pyrotechnical devices were performed. The operation went very smoothly.