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 topicA mote is a low-cost off-the-shelf assembly of wireless telemetry hardware comprising a processor, RF communications and sensor interfaces, capable through standardised embedded software of demonstrating robust network self-configuration, data routing and distributed sensing. Terrestrial industries are increasingly using interacting wireless sensor devices, known as RF ID tags or motes to run applications such as controlling lighting and heating in hotels, to monitoring automotive subsystems. Sensor networks can be physically arranged or allowed to arrange in an ad hoc fashion e.g. air dropped, and using new wireless protocols such as Zigbee will self-organise into a communicating network.