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 topicThis is a computer simulation of the Sun's atmosphere. The red lines are magnetic field lines that are shaken by Alfvén waves as they propagate upwards from the surface of the Sun. The colouring of the gas in the lower part of the box shows the photosphere (green at bottom), chromosphere (chromosphere) and transition region (green and blue). Simulations such as these indicate that jostling of magnetic field lines by convective motions and sound waves at the surface and lower atmosphere of the Sun generates Alfvén waves with properties similar to those we observe with Hinode.