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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Under the most stringent conditions of simulated space environment, ATV engineers have successfully ordered the extension and the retraction of the probe (at the top) of the docking system of the spaceship. For 21 days in a row, inside the huge 2300 m3 Large Space Simulator (LSS), the 20-tonne Jules Verne ATV spacecraft has survived perfectly the toughest simulated conditions of space vacuum, freezing temperatures and burning sun radiation.