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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Hinode (Solar-B) is a sun-pointing spacecraft that weighs 900 kilos. It carries three scientific instruments: a Solar Optical Telescope (SOT), the first large optical telescope flown in space dedicated to observing the Sun; an X-ray Telescope (XRT), to provide coronal images at different temperatures; and a EUV Imaging Spectrometer (EIS), an optical telescope designed to measure the flows of hot gas down to a level of 1 kilometre per second.