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 topicVictor Hess in 1912 in the hot-air balloon which enabled him to measure how the mysterious ionizing radiation that had intrigued physicians for years, intensified with altitude. For his valuable work in demonstrating that this this radiation came from space, he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1936.