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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This artist’s view shows COROT, a mission led by CNES with ESA participation, due for launch at the end of 2006. Further to search for rocky planets orbiting around other stars, COROT will detect the subtle variation in a star’s light, caused by sound waves rippling across the surface. By doing this, COROT will gain a detailed insight into the internal conditions of the star. This technique is known as asteroseismology.