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 topicThank you for liking
You have already liked this page, you can only like it once!
This Envisat image, acquired on 16 December 2006 with its MERIS instrument, highlights the snow-capped Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetlands Islands. The South Shetlands is a 540-km chain of four main island groups: Clarence and Elephant islands (not visible); King George and Nelson islands; Robert, Greenwich, Livingston, Snow and Deception islands; and Smith and Low islands. The islands visible in this image from top right to bottom left are King George, Nelson, Robert, Greenwich, Livingston and Deception, which is easily recognisable because of its broken-ring shape.