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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Estimated sea-ice thickness in the Arctic (1993-2001). The
radar altimeters on the European ERS satellites have made it possible to estimate sea-ice thickness in the Arctic. Although a remarkable scientific achievement, the map demonstrates the shortcomings of the existing satellite systems - there is a large data gap at the pole and the most dynamic areas at the outer edges of the ice sheets are not covered. Reaching latitudes of 88°, CryoSat-2 will monitor precise changes in the thickness of the polar ice sheets and floating sea ice to fill these gaps.
Credits: Laxon S., Peacock N. & Smith D., (2003), High interannual variability of sea-ice
thickness in the Arctic Region, Nature, 425, 947-950. doi10.1038/nature02050.