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 topicA multi-layer structure, comprising 20 layers of aluminised polyester films originally developed for space, can insulate for temperature differences of up to 300 Kelvin. This material is now being used to insulate the vacuum chambers of tomographs which use liquid helium at a temperature of –270ºC to cool the vacuum chamber.