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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This diagram illustrates the greenhouse effect on Venus. As on Earth, visible solar radiation (represented here in yellow) enters the atmosphere and is
partially reflected by the clouds, and absorbed by the lower atmosphere and by the surface. Infrared radiation (here represented in red) is emitted by
the surface and is absorbed by the thick carbon dioxide atmosphere and the clouds, so that it cannot efficiently radiate into space. Thus the planet is
extremely hot.