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 topicUsing data from Envisat's SCIAMACHY, scientists developed in 2003 a high-resolution global atmospheric map of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) pollution, which made clear just how human activities affect air quality. Scientists developed another global atmospheric map using Envisat data in 2006, allowing changes to be monitored. This image has been cropped to highlight Europe.